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R.I.P
FREE SPEECH: Protesters can now be charged $750 or 2 years gaol for
attending protests in Victoria
11
March, 2014
On
Tuesday the Legislative Council of Victoria passed the Summary
Offence Act 2013,
which outlaws the right to protest in Victoria, by a vote of 20-18.
From
September onwards the police in Victoria will have the power to ‘move
on’ groups of people at their will, including those involved in
peaceful protests and pickets. Those who refuse to comply with these
orders can be issued with fines of $750, exclusion orders,
and jail gaol
terms of up to 2 years.
Though
clearly aimed at disrupting the Tunnel Picket campaign against
the East West Link, in future this law has the potential to be used
against anyone – including trade unions and community groups.
Even
die-hard conservatives question whether the new laws are too heavy
handed. Tim Wilson, former head of the IPA and current Human Rights
commissioner told
The Age he though the laws were ”excessive”.
”It
unnecessarily gives police too much power to move on protesters
unjustifiably,” he said. ”I have an issue with the low bar that
is being set to give police the powers to move people on.”
Someday, but decades too late, people will finally wake up and realize that protests are a complete and total waste of time, accomplishing virtually nothing.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, admist all the placards, posters and pickets, the world continues to be raped and pillaged by industry and business, turning it ever-faster into shit.
The obvious is apparently "not". With eyes to see and ears to hear, they remain as deaf and dumb as their parents were.