Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens’ Local Government spokesperson and Member for Franklin
The Liberals and Labor voted together to support Clarence City Council’s by-laws that allow local government to crack down on public assembly, protests and even beach cricket.
In an extraordinary display, both Labor and the Liberals betrayed their bases by voting against the Greens’ Motion to disallow the Clarence City Council by-law. Labor have betrayed the unions and the right to protest, and the Liberals’ have ignored the rights of the individual.
Tasmania’s Police Commissioner cautioned the Clarence City Council against over-reach and impinging on civil liberties through this by-law. The Police Commissioner’s warning was ignored by the Clarence Council, and now by both the Liberals and Labor.
Not only have both Labor and the Liberals ignored the advice of the Police Commissioner, but also the outrage of their community. Eastern Shore residents, who choose to live in an area of coastal beauty and defend it strongly, will be shocked to hear that both parties have backed in Clarence Council’s draconian new by-laws.
The Liberals clung to individual freedoms as their weak rationale for backing the 20 year extension to the pokies licence. It seems the rights of individuals only matter to them when it comes to who’s signing their donation cheques.