Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens' Leader
In a massive, justly deserved slap in the face to the Tasmanian Liberals, their draconian, undemocratic anti-protest laws have been found to be in breach of the Australian Constitution by the High Court.
The High Court today found in favour of former Greens' Leader, Bob Brown's challenge to the Workplace (Protection from Protestors) Act 2014, in an overwhelming majority judgment that found the Tasmanian law contravenes the implied right of communication in the Australian Constitution.
The Liberals' desperate, corporate driven and politically motivated anti-protest law is an epic failure, with a majority of the High Court agreeing the push to stop Tasmanians from carrying out protests on public lands is against the implied right to freedom of speech, and peaceful protest, in the Constitution.
The Premier had egg all over his face in Question Time today, embarrassed and floundering, exposed on the national stage, with his nasty piece of legislation found to be fake law.
The Premier and his colleagues tried to silence dissent and stop peaceful protest in Tasmania. Their arrogance has been exposed and they have failed miserably.
Despite their tough talk on law and order, the Liberals have found to be in breach of the Constitution, yet the Premier today showed no remorse and in fact still blatantly promoted his law despite the High Court slapping it down.
This is a great outcome for democracy and the vibrant, tenacious spirit of peaceful protest in Tasmania which has been such an important part of protecting this island's wild places.
Despite the Liberals' best endeavours to rob Tasmanians of their right to peaceful protest, the spirit of democracy is alive and well in Tasmania and affirmed today by the highest court in the land.