Labor urges caution on protest crackdown

Anthony Albanese says Scott Morrison’s ‘virtue signalling’ vow to legislate against ‘new breed’ does not seem possible.

A man is knocked to the ground as climate change activists blockade the IMARC conference at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre last week. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Anthony Albanese has lashed Scott Morrison for vowing to crack down on activist protesters targeting mining businesses, declaring it “very difficult to see how that could happen”.

The Opposition Leader dismissed as “virtue signalling” the Prime Minister’s vow to legislate against secondary boycotts, which could prevent environmental groups from targeting financial institutions that help fund mining projects.

“If this wasn’t a thought bubble, I don’t know what is,” Mr Albanese said.

“The idea that you have a Prime Minister who has criticised businesses who’ve engaged in support on social issues such as marriage equality. He now suggests that somehow, it’s the role of government to stop individuals campaigning about corporate behaviour.

“It is very difficult to see how that could happen. And I just see it as another virtue signal from a Prime Minister that needs to actually deal with the real challenges facing Australia.”

On Friday, Mr Morrison attacked the “new breed of radical activism” that he claimed was putting the mining industry at risk, declaring “absolutist environmentalism is testing the limits of the right to protest”.

“The right to protest does not mean there is an unlimited licence to disrupt people’s lives and disrespect your fellow Australians,” Mr Morrison said in a speech to the Queensland Resources Council in Brisbane on Friday.

“But there is a third, even more worrying development. An escalating trend towards a new form of secondary boycotts. This is a trend with potentially serious consequences for our economy. Environmental groups are targeting businesses and firms who provide goods or services to firms they don’t like, especially in the resources sector.

“Together with the Attorney-General, we are working to identify mechanisms that can successfully outlaw these indulgent and selfish practices that threaten the livelihoods of fellow Australians.
Opposition employment spokesman Brendan O’Connor said Mr Morrison’s proposal was a “stunt” and a “thought bubble”, declaring protesting was an “important element to democracy”.

“People have to respect the law but we are a democracy. And the right to protest is an important element of democracy and it seems the Prime Minister has lost that,” Mr O’Connor told Sky News.

“There is no legislation being proposed. We haven’t seen anything.

“And I have to say it smacked of intolerance, frankly. It really is not focusing on the big issues of this country.

“If he has got a real, plan, that wasn't just a thought bubble then I guess we will see the legislation.”

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Mr O’Connor noted Tony Abbott attempted to bring in secondary boycott provisions when he was prime minister, but the laws went nowhere and were opposed by the right-wing Institute of Public Affairs.

“I have no tolerance for groups that destroy property or use any form of violence. That is unconscionable conduct. But consumers have the right to choose. And if they don’t like the behaviour of a particular company, it is not for the government to deny the right of a consumer the choice as to whether they want to buy their product,” Mr O’Connor said.

“That is why you see most good companies are concerned about how they are perceived ethically. And I think that is a good thing.

“So I think the idea that you restrain consumers from making choices by bringing in legislation would be wrong.”