The Tasmanian Greens today called for the Police Minister to rule out curtailing the right to protest in Tasmania by charging peaceful protestors over potential police costs.
Greens Police spokesperson Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP said, given Police Minister O’Byrne’s ambivalence over Tasmania Police’s review of the Police Offences Act, suggests Mr O’Byrne shares the Greens’ concerns about the potential erosion of freedom of and right to protest.
“Tasmania Police proposed charging peaceful protestors for police costs. But ‘pay per protest’ would blatantly contravene everyone’s fundamental democratic right to protest, a basic foundation of a free society,” said Mr O’Halloran.
“Under Budget Estimates questioning on Police issues, Mr O’Byrne MP handballed the future of the Police Offences Act review to Cabinet but did express personal reservations about it.”
“It would appear Tasmania Police has instigated proposed amendments to the Police Offences Act which would effectively curtail the hard-won and democratic right to protest in Tasmania but which don’t have the backing of the Minister.”
“However, Liberal Police spokesperson, Elise Archer MP, shared no such reservations, interrogating Police Commissioner Darren Hine over the supposed costs of policing peaceful protests.”
“The right to protest is a luxury which few countries enjoy, and for which many people continue to lay down their lives for.”
“The Greens will continue to guard against this democratic right being watered down on the false pretexts of costs and inconvenience. Democratic rights are a question of principle not cost or convenience,” said Mr O’Halloran.
• CLARITY NEEDED OVER DEATH THREAT LAWS
Paul O’Halloran MP
Greens Police & Emergency Services Spokesperson
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
The Tasmanian Greens today (Wed) called for State laws to be changed to ensure that any death threat made via electronic media is deemed a criminal offence.
During Budget Estimates hearings today, Greens Police and Emergency Services spokesperson Paul O’Halloran MP asked the Minister David O’Byrne how police had responded to a recent death threat sent via the internet to a prominent environmental activist.
“It appears that while it is a criminal offence to send a written death threat, there is a degree of ambiguity around whether or not this also applies to threats sent via electronic media.”
“It beggars believe that a death threat on a piece of paper would somehow be considered less serious if it’s read from a computer screen.”
“Anyone who has ever received a death threat knows what a terrible impact it can have, and sadly it’s something that environmental activists have had to deal with far too often.”
“Any death threats should be met by the full force of the law, regardless of whether they come in writing or via the internet.”
“The rapidly changing nature of media, particularly online media, means greater clarity is needed around online threats in general.”
“We know that online bullying, particularly involving Facebook, is increasingly prevalent and highly distressing to victims.”
