Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader
A retired anaesthetist, two nurses and a local builder arrested under draconian Liberal anti-protest laws at Lapoinya are exactly the kind of Tasmanians who Minister Harriss pledged would not be targeted when the Bill was before Parliament in 2014.
These Tasmanians are hardly the 'extremist protesters' repeatedly referred to by Paul Harriss during debate on the Bill. It is becoming increasingly clear that Mr Harriss is the extremist.
When Parliament resumes in March, the Greens will be tabling a Bill to repeal the legislation that would be better described as the 'Protection from Mum and Dad Protesters Act'.
The Liberals' extreme anti-protest law is turning ordinary Tasmanians in to criminals and threatening the democratic right of every Tasmanian to take part in peaceful protest.
Peaceful protesters in Tasmania face fines of up to $10 000 and a maximum four year prison term. The Hodgman Liberals have enacted the most draconian and undemocratic anti-protest law in the country.
Serious concerns raised by civil liberties' groups, unions, legal practitioners and environmentalists when this extreme law was being debated are now being realised before our eyes.
The Greens are sponsoring a petition put by Civil Liberties Australia (Tas) for Parliament to repeal this harsh, unnecessary legislation.
It will be interesting to see how Mr Harriss tries to explain away the absolute untruth he and the Premier told to Mum and Dad Tasmanians in 2014 when we debate the Greens' repeal Bill.
The petition can be found at: http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/EPetitions/House/CurrentEPetition.aspx?...