Brisbane City Council is restricting free speech and right to protest says Cr Jonathan Sri

MAVERICK councillor Jonathan Sri has accused Brisbane City Council of restricting free speech and peaceful protest as his conduct comes under fire over a controversial “die-in” protest.

MAVERICK councillor Jonathan Sri has accused Brisbane City Council of restricting free speech as he undergoes a conduct review over his involvement in a bike “die-in” protest.

Cr Sri said the review was another “troubling” response from a council that had a record of making it difficult for activists to peacefully protest on council-owned public space.

“I think the council is excessively restricting free speech and the freedom of public assembly,” he said.

Controversial "Die in" cyclist protest led by Councillor Johnathan Sri during peak hour traffic at the corner of Vulture and Graham Streets, South Brisbane. Photographer: Liam Kidston

The Greens councillor helped organise the May protest to call for lower speed limits and separated bike lanes outside the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.

As part of the protest, cyclists lay on the road to represent death at the intersection of Vulture, Stanley, Graham and Dock streets, where a cyclist was injured earlier this year.

Brisbane City Council chief executive officer Colin Jensen referred Cr Sri to the Councillor Conduct Review Panel after a complainant alleged that Cr Sri had “abused his power” and encouraged the public to “impede access to a lifesaving facility”.

The controversial "die-in" cyclist protest, which led to a complaint against Cr Sri. Picture: Liam Kidston

In a letter to Cr Sri dated July 6, Mr Jensen said Cr Sri was entitled, as an elected official, to discuss and support a variety of matters relevant to the community, including cyclist safety.

“While the protest was authorised, it is arguable that you have breached the trust in you, as a Councillor, to uphold the laws of the Commonwealth, Queensland, and Council by holding a protest in a manner which caused unreasonable disruption to the public and most importantly, impeded the ability for emergency service vehicles to access/leave the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital,” he said.

A Queensland Police spokesman said there were “no issues with respect to public safety or emergency vehicle access identified at the time of the protest”.

He said Queensland Police received the notice of intention to hold a public assembly on April 23 and approved it with strict conditions on duration and emergency vehicle access.

Police directed traffic during the ten minute protest outside the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital. Picture: Liam Kidston

Cr Sri said the conduct review was a “farce” and a “joke”.

“The police would not have approved the protest if there was a genuine and legitimate concern that ambulances might be obstructed,” he said.

He said the Brisbane City Council made it “particularly difficult”, with myriad obstacles, to hold protests in public spaces even though that right was enshrined in the state legislation.

“They are actually lying to protest organisers, they are saying you need public liability insurance, which is often prohibitively expensive, when you do not,” he said.

Cr Sri said the council had prohibited protesters from setting up shade gazebos at rallies, and he had seen “overzealous” officers stop protesters handing out flyers on footpaths.

He said the council also refused to provide access to power points in places like King George Square, in contrast to the State-owned Queens Park where they provide access free-of-charge.

Those were only some of his examples.

“Such restrictions upon free speech and freedom of assembly must be strongly resisted and challenged,” he said.

A council spokesman confirmed a complaint had been made against Cr Sri. Picture: Liam Kidston

A council spokesman did not respond to Cr Sri’s accusations or questions on whether the council supported the right to peaceful protest and free speech.

The spokesman confirmed that a complaint about the conduct or behaviour of Cr Sri had been received and was currently being assessed.

“In accordance with Section 183A of CoBA2010, outcomes of matters referred to a Councillor Conduct Review Panel are publicly available for inspection upon request,” he said.