Anti-protest laws pass Lower House amid rowdy scenes

UPDATED: It was a rowdy final session of Parliament for 2019 as the State Government tried to push through its controversial anti-protest laws.

Sue Hickey, top left, left the Speaker’s chair to take part in the debate and vote on the anti-protest laws. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

UPDATED: CONTROVERSIAL anti-protest laws that critics say will limit freedom of expression have passed the Lower House of State Parliament after the Government gagged debate.

Following 13 hours of discussion, including a marathon 2am sitting, the Government set a 6pm deadline today, forcing a vote amid rowdy scenes as opposition MPs expressed their anger.

The Bill passed with the support of independent member Madeleine Ogilvie. Speaker Sue Hickey crossed the floor to vote against the Bill with Labor and the Greens.

With four members absent, acting speaker Joan Rylah used her casting vote to break a 10-10 deadlock.

Premier Will Hodgman speaks during the vote on the anti-protest legislation. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Passed in the last moments of the last parliamentary sitting day of the year, the Bill will be considered by the Legislative Council some time after parliament resumes in March.

The Liberal Party introduced the Workplaces (Protection from Protesters) Amendment Bill 2019 into parliament in a bid to fix problems with its 2014 attempt at a crackdown on protesters — which was ruled invalid by the High Court three years later.

The new laws, announced just two weeks ago, include heavy penalties and jail terms of up to four years for people who interfere with business operations — or even threaten to do so.

Despite supporting the Bill, Ms Ogilvie said it needed tweaking.

“I have sought amendments from Minister Guy Barnett to ensure union action is better protected and have received a commitment that my proposed amendments will be properly considered,” she said.

“I am a strong supporter of freedom of speech and the right to protest. With the house evenly divided it was always going to be tough to vote.”

Primary Industries and Water Minister Guy Barnett said the laws were intended to protect workers in businesses, farms and forests.

He condemned the opposition parties for their tactics delaying the Bill.

“It is clear Labor and the Greens are in lock-step against protecting Tasmanian jobs and that they have no material amendments to provide, with deliberate distraction and off-topic, time-wasting exploits their only tactic,” he said.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the legislation was “a slide into a police state”. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Labor’s David O’Byrne described the laws as “an attack on workers and an attack on the community” and criticised the Government for gagging debate.

“Tasmanians deserve better than a Government who wants to knock off early, rather than doing their job,” he said.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the Bill was outrageous.

“This is a slide into a police state, this is low-grade authoritarianism, this is early onset fascism,” she told parliament.

“The provisions of this Bill should terrify every Tasmanian who isn’t running a business.”

And she condemned the Government for curtailing the debate.

“As if it wasn’t chilling enough for the Liberals to seek to erode the democratic rights of all Tasmanians with their anti-peaceful protest law, today they gagged debate on the legislation itself,” she said.

A petition of more than 2500 signatures opposing the Bill was tabled in Parliament yesterday after a rally of hundreds of people on Parliament Lawns on Monday.

Independent MP Madeleine Ogilvie, left, with Liberal MP Jacquie Petrusma during the debate. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

EARLIER: DEBATE on the Government’s controversial anti-protest laws will continue today after a marathon late-night sitting of State Parliament.

MPs debated the last until after 2am this morning and will resume on what is the last scheduled sitting day for the year.

The Government looks to have the numbers to get the Bill through parliament — although the timing is uncertain.

DEBATE RAGES ON LIBS’ PROPOSED PROTEST LAWS

The Liberal Party has introduced the Workplaces (Protection from Protesters) Amendment Bill 2019 into parliament in a bid to fix problems with its 2014 attempt — which was ruled invalid by the High Court three years later.

The new laws, announced just two weeks ago, include heavy penalties and jail terms of up to four years for people who interfere with business operations — or even threaten to do so.

The Bill passed a second reading vote in the early hours of the morning with the support of independent Madeleine Ogilvie.

Labor, the Greens and speaker Sue Hickey voted against it.

If those numbers hold for the Government, the Bill would be expected to pass before parliament rises for the year.

Debate on the bill is expected to continue late into tonight.

A petition of more than 2500 signatures opposing the Bill was tabled in State Parliament yesterday after a rally of hundreds of people on Parliament Lawns on Monday.

Opponents have described the laws as an unacceptable crackdown on freedom of democratic expression.

An earlier version was thrown our by the High Court in 2017 for breaching the implied right of free political expression.