The prosecution case
The prosecution case was that on 14 July 2011 two rangers from the City of Greater Geraldton attended at the property of the appellant. They did so in response to a report of a possible fire. As they approached the property they saw smoke.
The officers drove their vehicle up the driveway of the property and were there met by the appellant. The appellant told the officers to leave his property and stated that they were trespassing. He was alleged to have used language that was abusive in tone and content.
One of the officers, Mr Benoit Tomasino, got out of the car. He was confronted by the appellant and was forced by him to return to the car, this involved being pushed at least twice to the back. The appellant then told Mr Tomasino to get into the car. Mr Tomasino said that the appellant closed the car door against one of his legs, forcing him to withdraw it into the car.
Both officers were wearing uniforms identifying their position as rangers of the City of Greater Geraldton. The vehicle that they were driving was also clearly marked as such.
The officers considered it prudent to withdraw and seek assistance. They backed down the driveway, parked across the road and from there called the police.
The defence case
The appellant gave evidence at the trial. He did not deny using force on Mr Tomasino and ordering the officers to leave his property. In essence, his defence was that the officers were trespassing, that they had no lawful right to enter his property and that, therefore, he was not obstructing them in the course of their lawful duties.
The officers had stated in evidence that they were empowered to enter the land of the appellant pursuant to s 14 of the Bush Fires Act. The appellant argued that this power of entry related only to bush fires and that the fire on his property was not such a fire. He also submitted that, in any event, the Bush Fires Act was invalid [4] - [10].