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Anti-Protest Bill Passed-But Unworkable


Nick Mckim

Nick Mckim  -  Tuesday, 25 November 2014

Tags: Anti-Protest Laws, Democracy, Protest, Freedom of Speech

Minister Harriss might be celebrating, but people who care about a healthy democracy will be mourning the passage of the government's extreme anti-protest legislation.

"This is a sad day for our democracy, and a sad day for freedom of speech in Tasmania," said Greens Justice spokesperson Nick McKim MP.

"While we are pleased that the Upper House removed the mandatory imprisonment provisions, the Bill remains a crude attack on the fundamental right to political expression."

"The good news is that the Bill is a shambles, and is unlikely to be workable."

"The bad news is that some people may be intimidated out of protesting, which would remove some of the shine from our sparkling democracy," Mr McKim said.