Minns defies Law Reform Commission, targets protest with arrests
The NSW Government will introduce new laws to the NSW Parliament this week that will further criminalise peaceful protest and hand significant new powers to the NSW Police that will allow police to issue move on orders and arrest peaceful protestors for simply being near places of worship.
Greens MP and spokesperson for justice Sue Higginson said “Racism and acts of hate must never be tolerated, they must always be called out. We must always strive towards a more cohesive and inclusive society, but these new laws are extreme and completely unnecessary. The laws are overreach and the only purpose they serve is to further criminalise peaceful and legitimate protests,”
“Premier Chris Minns has proven again that he is a one-trick pony when it comes to law and order crack downs that are announced through conservative radio interviews. Now here we are back in the arena watching him being led by the nose when it comes to draconian criminal punishments, and more police powers to whip and kick the people of NSW,”
“It’s clear that the Minns Labor Government is not interested in the evidence, or the opinions of civil society organisations and experts. The Premier has ignored the Law Reform Commission report that he commissioned into hate crime laws, a report that recommended against these changes, and he is ignoring his own colleagues who know that these changes will entrench hate against marginalised communities in favour of some of the most powerful religious organisations in the world,”
“The NSW Police already have extraordinary powers to issue move on orders to people on the street, these laws will introduce more powers that are poorly defined and could cause peaceful protestors in Hyde Park and other public places to be arrested for the ‘crime’ of being near a Catholic church,”
“The Supreme Court has already found similar anti-protest laws unconstitutional and an impermissible burden on political communication. It is truly shameful that Chris Minns is doubling down on attacking the foundations of a healthy democracy instead of having a responsible conversation about social issues,”
“You cannot arrest your way out of these issues, it just drives people further away from reasonable and mature discussion. NSW already has more than enough powers when it comes to punishing protest and we should be doing more to protect peaceful protest, rather than just punishing everyday members of the community,” Ms Higginson said.