Verdict for granny labelled a ‘ragtag extremist’ by Premier
An environmental activist charged with trespassing after protesting the controversial North Adelaide Golf Course development has been let off without conviction and says she will not rule out doing it again.
Self-described “granny” Mij Tanith, who was previously labelled a “ragtag extremist” by Premier Peter Malinauskas, was let off without conviction today after pleading guilty to unlawfully being on premises after protesting the controversial North Adelaide Golf Course development.
However, speaking to the media outside the court, Tanith, who was recognised as the City of Adelaide’s Citizen of the Year in 2025 for her refugee advocacy, did not rule out repeating the protest action, saying that “I feel incredibly passionate about this”.
“I’m looking at other people around me – we’re all passionate, we’re all committed, we’ve come together as a movement, and the movement is growing,” she said.
“I think that if we stay together, if we keep strong, if we keep connected and we keep focused, then we can actually win this battle.”
Tanith fronted the Adelaide Magistrates Court just after 10 am this morning, accompanied by dozens of supporters carrying signs with slogans such as “save the park lands” and “save the trees”, who were unable to squeeze into the small courtroom.
During the hearing, the prosecution and defence agreed on the basic facts of the case, being that Tanith entered the North Adelaide Golf Course site when the green mesh fencing indicated it was not open to the public.
They also agreed that she was protesting the redevelopment of the golf course and the removal of hundreds of trees, that she cooperated with police while being arrested and that she later spent one and a half hours in the city watchhouse.
Lawyer Paul Crawford asked for Tanith to be let off without conviction, noting her cooperation with police, her lack of a criminal record and the time she already spent in custody.
Magistrate Ben Sale referred to previous case law, saying that while courts do not condone unlawful behaviour by activists, conviction was generally not an appropriate punishment for protesters.
Sale said that, taking into account the maximum sentencing discount given her early guilty plea, as well as Tanith’s lack of a criminal record, her life dedicated to “helping others” and the unlikelihood that she would repeat the action, he was satisfied to let Tanith off without conviction.
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However, Sale said that Tanith was still required to pay court fees.
Sale warned Tanith that if she were to repeat the protest action, she would receive a criminal conviction, saying it would make her life difficult in a number of ways, including travelling to foreign countries.
After exiting the courtroom, Tanith hugged her supporters, who had been anxiously waiting outside for the verdict.
Tanith was the first of 10 park lands protesters who will appear before the court on similar charges.
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