Protesters rally against proposed new fines as SA Premier Peter Malinauskas slammed for working with opposition
A politician has called a premier’s collaboration to “rush through” anti-protesting laws “draconian” and an “absolute disgrace”.
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A politician has slammed the acts of South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, calling his collaboration with the opposition to “rush through” anti-protesting laws “draconian” and an “absolute disgrace”.
On Tuesday morning, politicians, civil rights groups and union members gathered at Adelaide’s Festival Plaza to fight against the proposed harsher penalties for protesters who disrupt the public in “intentional or reckless” ways.
The proposed laws, which have been heavily supported by the Liberal opposition, were introduced on May 18, just a day after an Extinction Rebellion member blocked off traffic as she abseiled off Morphett St bridge in protest of a gas and oil conference.
The state Labor government has been both encouraged and slammed for the proposed legislation, which passed through the lower house in just 22 minutes.
SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros is outraged at the Premier’s decision to work closely with the opposition to pass the bill.
“I don’t care what it is you’re protesting about, it is no government’s right to take those rights away from you,” Ms Bonaros told NCA NewsWire.
“And if you can pass this Bill through in 22 minutes, imagine what else you can do in 22 minutes? That’s the chilling part of what the government has done.
“These laws are draconian – they are infringing our rights to civil protests. but not only that, (the Premier) made a captain’s call and he has silenced the Labour Party.”
She said it was an “absolute disgrace” that the Labor leader would turn to the opposition for support rather than members of his own government.
“It is an absolute disgrace that Malinauskas would jump into bed with the Liberal Party, of all people, and try to ram this through parliament in record time,” Ms Bonaros said.
Under the proposed amendment, fines for protesters who “intentionally or recklessly” obstruct the free passage of a public place skyrocket from $750 to a whopping $50,000 maximum fine or three months imprisonment.
Hundreds of people from unions all across South Australia gathered on Tuesday to show their disappointment in the Bill, which is expected to reach its final stages in parliament this week.
The crowd chanted towards the windows of Parliament House, demanding the government “kill the Bill”.
“Down with this Bill,” they chanted.
“This is what democracy looks like.”
Barbara Baird, who has been protesting for changes like the decriminalisation of abortion, said she felt threatened by the new penalties.
“As someone who’s been working to decriminalise abortion for a five-year period, with it successfully achieved in 2021, I’m part of a group that’s protested a lot on the streets, giving out leaflets on footpath, had stalls on university campuses,” she said.
“This escalation of criminalisation of protest is very, very concerning.
“I think progressive change happens when people get together and stick together and I feel really threatened by this legislation. As someone who protests on the streets, I feel really threatened – I don’t want to have a $50,000 fine or go to jail or prison.”
Section 58 of the Summary Offences Act 1953 imposes a penalty on those who are “wilfully” obstructing passage, but Mr Malinauskas said the proposed wording change would punish those going out of their way to deliberately infringe on the public.
“As the Premier of the state, it is important that I ensure the parliament responds swiftly, where there is an opportunity to do so, to action within our community that compromises the ability for hardworking people to earn a living and the ability for our emergency services to be able to function appropriately,” the Premier said when the Bill was announced.
“Which is why today in the parliament, we have swiftly introduced legislation that increases penalties for those who do not seek to comply with appropriate arrangements when it comes to protesting peacefully.
“The legislative change makes zero amendments to the ability for people to be able to protest peacefully in South Australia, to enjoy the right of freedom of association, to be able to demonstrate on whatever cause they so choose.”
Opposition leader David Speirs called for Mr Malinauskas to “stick to his word”, with the Bill due to be debated in the upper house later on Tuesday.
“Peter Malinauskas’ Labor Party are tearing themselves apart over these public obstruction laws and there is concern the Premier will bow down to the unions and those from the Left and soften this legislation,” Mr Speirs said.
“Peter Malinauskas has given welcome support for this legislation and any changes to it would be an embarrassing surrender for a Labor premier who claims he’s not scared to make the tough decisions.”
Originally published as Protesters rally against proposed new fines as SA Premier Peter Malinauskas slammed for working with opposition
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