Hundreds rally in CBD against SA’s protest crackdown and tough new penalties

Hundreds of demonstrators have descended on North Tce, demanding the Premier drop controversial laws rushed in in the wake of Extinction Rebellion protests.

Hundreds of protesters have descended outside Parliament House to rally against rushed legislation amending the state’s protest laws.

Australian Education Union SA branch president Andrew Gohl said the right to amount an effective protest was “the cornerstone of a democratic society”, citing back to Australia’s Eureka Rebellion and suffragette movements.

“We need to keep on fighting for that right,” he said.

“Our country was founded on protests. Those protests have been shown to be on the right side of history.”

Police closed one lane of North Terrace for the protest. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Activists rally on the steps of Parliament House protesting against anti-protesting laws. Picture: Brenton Edwards

At the event, a spokesperson from Extinction Rebellion – the organisation that sparked the legal overhaul – said the laws threatened South Australians’ right to justice.

“History shows that disruption is a tactic that works – and that is why Extinction Rebellion uses it,” they said, met with cheers from the crowd.

“They are trying to silence voices advocating for climate change policy in this state.”

The crowd rallied to chants of “Stand up, fight back”, with Extinction Rebellion flags and placards held among protesters.

Protesters took to Rundle Mall, with a call-and-echo chants of, “Show me what democracy looks like”, “This is what democracy looks like”, and, “Whose streets? Our streets”.

At one stage, more than 50 demonstrators sat down outside Haigh’s on the corner of Rundle Mall and King William St - in an echo of past Extinction Rebellion actions.

Protesters rallied on North Terrace on Friday evening as commuters made their way home. Picture: Emily Olle

Protesters on North Tce, Adelaide, take part in the Amnesty International Australia SA/NT rally against new protest law. Picture: Emily Olle

The proposed new laws were rushed into parliament after a week of disruptive protests and vandalism in Adelaide last week by Extinction Rebellion activists.

They allow for three months jail and fines of up to $50,000 – from a current $750 – for protesters who spark community chaos and risk public safety.

Protesters from more than 15 advocacy groups will gather outside Parliament House from 5pm on Friday to rally and march down King William St and Rundle Mall, in a bid to convince the upper house to dismiss the changes.

Amnesty International has condemned the new penalties saying the Bill’s broad scope was concerning and could even penalise homeless people for “reckless obstruction”.

Protest organisers were “demanding an end to the Bill, defending (their) democratic right to protest,” according their Facebook page before Friday’s demonstration.

“The future this will create is one of complete climate crisis, fuelled by the constant drive to profit and laws that punish anyone who would stand in the way of that.”

“Premier (Peter) Malinauskas had backed the bill saying that disruptive protest actions ‘interrupts business unnecessarily’ but we see the defence of our planet against climate destruction as an urgent necessity.”

Introducing the new penalties, Mr Malinauskas told parliament the urgent new laws under the Summary Offences (Obstruction of Public Places) Amendment Bill 2023 would crack down on disruptive stunts that was vandalism, but not on peaceful and legal protests that was vital to any democracy.

MP Josh Teague said the “bill is not creating any new offence.”

“I’m aware of Amnesty’s plans to convene a protest, to protect the right to protest. I support that in principle one hundred per cent,” Mr Teague said.

“Coming as I do from the liberal party, we’re champions of the freedom of association and we know the tremendous work that amnesty has done, over years and decades.”

“I very much welcome the gathering to highlight the importance of political protest as part of our civil discourse,” he said.

The bill was rushed through the lower House of Assembly last week with bipartisan support shortly after being tabled.

The Legislative Council will consider the new laws next week – as early as Tuesday – and it expected to pass them, meaning the crackdown will likely come into force next month.

Protest organiser from Adelaide Uni Students for Climate Justice, Kalesh Govender, said the proposal “infringes on (their) right to protest,” and was concerned they would no longer be able to “protest for any sort of civil rights”.

“Historically, every civil rights movement won has been a result of a civil disobedience and a disruption to business as usual, so I think it’s important that we as activists defend that right to protest,” Ms Govender said.

“Now, we’re facing a huge infringement on our right to demonstrate by the government, and we’ve seen that unions, human rights groups have come out (to say) that this is concerning.”

As “one of the toughest penalty laws across the country,” Ms Govender said there was a national crackdown on climate protesters, and a “huge infringement” on any organisation that wanted to protest.

She said public protests were a fundamental part of evoking social change, and that happened when activists “disrupt the normal day-to-day business.”

“Justice is never won without disrupting business as usual,” Ms Govender said.

She also said state and federal governments were retracting their promise to “deliver on climate justice”.

A heavy police presence at the Extinction Rebellion protest at parliament last week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Extinction Rebellion supporters at the Adelaide Magistrates Court last week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

As well as jail time and much larger fines, the amendment to the Summary Offences Act requires protesters pay “reasonable cost and expenses” of emergency services required to respond to protests.

The laws come after Extinction Rebellion protester, Meme Thorne, abseiled off the Morphett St bridge above North Terrace, last Wednesday, resulting in peak-hour traffic chaos.

On the following day, two more Extinction Rebellion protesters, Brad Homewood and Sarah Edwards, were charged for vandalising the Santos Plaza building on Flinders St.

The extreme protest also caused a loss of trade to the Bluprint Cafe, which is located inside the Santos business.