Protesters condemn Tasmanian State Government’s proposed anti-protest laws

Government anti-protest laws are a sign of “early-onset” fascism, a protest made up of more than 400 people has heard.

MORE than 400 people have turned out for a demonstration against the Hodgman Government’s proposed anti-protest laws outside State Parliament today

Described by Greens leader Cassy O’Connor as “early-onset fascism”, the bill presented to parliament last week provides for hefty fines and jail sentences of up to four years for protesters who disrupt business operations.

Anti-protest laws rally on Parliament Lawns. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Attended by environment, Aboriginal, trade union, liberties, animal liberation, Quaker and civil liberties groups, the protest called on independent Madeleine Ogilvie and Speaker Sue Hickie to vote against the laws in the House of Assembly this week.

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Long-time environmental campaigner Bob Brown said Tasmanians has a long tradition of protest dating back to early settlement times and condemned the Government.

“The leader of this state will lock up his fellow citizens because they have a different opinion to him and are willing to stand by it,” Dr Brown told the rally.

“What sort of Premier is that?”

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Bob Brown addresses the anti-protest laws rally. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Ms O’Connor condemned the laws as “the most extreme hard-right legislation” to be tabled in State Parliament.

“This is a Government that wants to introduce a bill of rights for business while taking away the rights of citizens,” she said.

She said the Government’s claim the laws would protect workers from protesters was not credible.

“Since when have the Liberals given a stuff about workers,” she said.

An electronic petition on the State Parliament website has attracted 1920 signatures to date.

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Alex Wylie, Flo Hastings and Mary Penn, all of Hobart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Premier Will Hodgman said his Government would not be moved.

“Our commitment is to do no more than to protect people going about earning a lawful living in their place of work. People are entitled to protest and those people there today ... would have been able to do so freely without any interference and that’s as it should be.

“That demonstrates that people can protest, express their views, even if it’s contrary to government policy, but our policy remains that we want to support people earning a living in their workplaces and that should not be a place where protest activity interrupts it.”

Mr Hodgman said it was a matter for the Parliament whether the laws were passed or not.