*Pic: More picutures by Andrei Nikulinsky of yesterday’s (June 26, 2014) protest against Libs’ proposed laws proposing protest bans, HERE
The passage through the House of Assembly of the Hodgman government’s draconian new laws targeting peaceful protests marks a dark day for Tasmanian democracy.
“This government has made the classic mistake of believing that by making a law, they are making something right”, Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.
“These laws will do nothing to stop Tasmanians standing up for issues they believe in, whether in the forests, the workplace, or the main street.”
“Every movement for social change in history has faced laws punishing them for taking a stand.”
“It is no different here in Tasmania today. Tasmanians will not be cowed by these new laws and, where necessary, will continue to peacefully protest against issues of great concern to them.”
“Back in 1950s America, Rosa Parks was not allowed to sit in the front of the bus, but she knew that was wrong, defied the law and was arrested. Tasmanian’s will not be told to sit in the back of the bus by this government”, Ms Weber said.
• Kim Booth: Hodgman Regime Drags Parliament to Historic Low … “In just four short parliamentary sitting weeks under this Hodgman Liberal regime we have seen an unprecedented assault on Tasmanians’ democratic rights, and an unprecedented degree of contempt for Parliament,” Greens Leader Mr Booth said. “In the space of four sitting days debate on two substantial and controversial pieces of legislation, the Forestry Bill and the draconian anti-dissent Bill, was gagged preventing detailed and proper scrutiny of their provisions.” “Tasmania’s parliament saw a new low last night when the Hodgman regime rammed through the most draconian, intimidatory and punitive laws attacking the right to protest, freedom speech and freedom of association this state has ever seen.” “It is outrageous that this extraordinary and undemocratic Bill had only a farcical few minutes allocated to examination of its clauses before the gagged debate was shut down.”
• Jan Davis: Protesting is a far cry from privacy invasion
• Peter McGlone, in Comments, HERE Be careful of what you ask for Jan. The proposed Liberal anti-protest laws would apply to a mining business premises whether this is on private farmland or public land. Under the legislation, if Tasmanian farmers held ‘Shut The Gate’ type protests against fracking companies they could slapped with $2000 on-the-spot fines and prison terms for repeat offenses – for protesting on their own land.
• Lara Giddings, Madeleine Ogilvie: Dark side to Libs protest legislation
• Nick S, in Comments, HERE If TFGA were genuine advocates for farmers, I would have thought you would have been very happy for farmers to be able to demonstrate to all comers that their animal practices were sound and healthy for the animals and for us as final consumers – the vast majority of farmers can do so easily and have nothing to fear. Seems to me that TFGA, and the NFF nationally, have been totally captured by big agri-business and right-wing politics. This inept ‘defence’ does nothing but harm the cause of good farmers everywhere.
• Carol Rea, in Comments, HERE Come on, if the farmer is breaking the law then he/she deserves to be outed in the media and to the authorities. This is why the Bill as it currently stands is such a shambles. It needs to be withdrawn and re-written after proper consultation with legal bodies. Then proper debate can happen. It is currently a piece of electoral window dressing that is chilling in it’s disregard for the separation of politics and the judiciary. Mandatory sentencing has no place in our democracy. No place at all Jan. Have you actually read it and understood the unintended consequences such as that for farmers and drilling for CSG on their land?
• Lyndon Schneiders, Vica Bayley: Liberals attack free speech The Liberal Party’s Federal Council lurched further to the draconian right by unanimously endorsing a policy motion to apply secondary boycott laws upon environmental advocates. Secondary boycott laws are in place to stop both unions and businesses from colluding for financial benefit, but environment and consumer groups are exempted under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. The change to the laws is being championed by Liberals from Tasmania who claim they are supporting the logging Industry, yet implementing such a policy would lead to greater scrutiny of the logging industry and raise new questions in international and domestic markets.
• Kim Booth: FT Subsidies Should End Tomorrow – But Where is Plan B? “Despite asking numerous times in the Parliament whether the Hodgman regime has a Plan B to keep Forestry Tasmania financially viable in light of their election promise that subsidies will cease on the 30th of June, no details have been forthcoming,” Mr Booth said. “There is only one day left before Premier Hodgman must come clean regarding how he intends to keep propping up Forestry Tasmania.”
