Taxpayers lumped with $355,000 bill for failed anti-protest laws

The Government is making no apologies for spending more than $350,000 unsuccessfully fighting a High Court challenge to its controversial anti-protest laws.

THE State Government says it makes no apologies for spending more than $350,000 unsuccessfully fighting the Bob Brown Foundation’s High Court challenge to anti-protest laws.

Foundation head and former Greens leader Bob Brown and protester Jessica Hoyt took the Government to the High Court after being charged under the laws in 2016.

The court ruled in 2017 the aim of the laws was legitimate but found they were unconstitutional as they were at odds with the implied right to the freedom of political communication.

HIGH COURT STRIKES DOWN ANTI-PROTEST LAWS

The laws were overturned and the Government was ordered to pay the foundation’s court costs. A Government spokeswoman confirmed on Thursday the legal battle cost taxpayers $355,709.46.

“However, the financial cost to legitimate Tasmanian businesses and their employees over many years due to having their business activities disrupted is very substantial, and we make no apologies for standing up for Tasmanians’ rights to go about their lawful business and earn a living,” the spokeswoman said.

“The Government committed to amend the Act and consultation will commence soon on these amendments, which will address the concerns raised by the High Court while retaining the overall purpose of the Act.”

Bob Brown and Jessica Hoyt outside the High Court of Australia in Canberra.

Dr Brown said the Government “had simply wasted that amount of money that should have gone to hospitals or schools”.

“It’s a fundamental right of Tasmanians to have their government behave lawfully, but the Premier has behaved unlawfully, and he’s now having taxpayers pay for his illegal legislation,” Dr Brown said.

“My plan is to continue to protect Tasmania’s scenic beauty and its wildlife, which is now the biggest economic asset Tasmania has and something Will Hodgman has fought to stop us doing since the first day he drew breath.”

The Government’s anti-protest laws, introduced in 2014, aimed to ban protesters from taking steps that would prevent, hinder or obstruct business activities. People faced fines of up to $50,000 and jail time if found in breach of the legislation.