Groundswell Activists unravel banner outside Parliament House to oppose proposed Anti-Protest Bill

Two Groundswell climbers have today deployed a banner in Salamanca to send a message to the Legislative Council that we will not take the proposed Anti-Protest Bill lying down. In addition, a group of community members including a number of people Paul Harriss likes to call ‘Mum and Dad protesters’ have gathered on Parliament Lawns to exercise their right to peacefully protest.

“There have been major concerns about this Bill from its controversial inception and the proposed amendments do not make this Bill acceptable. It is a deeply flawed piece of legislation and if passed, will change the face of peaceful protesting in Tasmania. The amendments proposed by Paul Harriss are a last-ditch effort to attempt to push this legislation through at any cost,” said Groundswell Tasmania spokesperson, Dr Lisa Searle.

Even with the proposed amendments, if the Bill is passed it will mean a fine of up to $10,000 for a first offence, and a mandatory minimum jail term of 3 months for repeat offenders.

“This will be the first case of mandatory jail sentences ever seen in Tasmania – does the government really think that this is an appropriate use of our jails and of taxpayers’ money?” Said Groundswell Spokesperson Lisa Searle.

“The right to peacefully protest is a fundamental part of any democracy and taking away this right has serious implications for our Constitution. There are already laws in place for people who break the law while protesting.”

The 2 activists have climbed the large structure outside PW1 across the road from Parliament House and deployed a banner which reads ‘DEFEND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST’.

Groundswell also has its #CELLFIE cell at today’s action, and will be encouraging members of the public to show their opposition to the bill by taking a #CELLFIE inside the cell.

The Bill will be discussed in Parliament tomorrow . Legislative Councillors will be briefed by legal advisors this afternoon and tomorrow morning. Debate will begin in the Upper House at 2:30pm tomorrow, Wednesday 29th October.
Groundswell Spokesperson Lisa Searle