ANIMAL ACTIVISM —
ANTI-PROTEST LEGISLATION
388. Hon COLIN TINCKNELL to the Leader of the House
representing the Attorney General:
I refer to anti-protest legislation.
The previous government proposed introducing anti-protest laws that the then
Leader of the Opposition said were too broad. Is the government considering
introducing anti-protest legislation, in any form, in an effort to stop extreme
and unlawful protest actions by militant activists; and, if so, when; and, if
not, why not?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
The Criminal Code Amendment
(Prevention of Lawful Activity) Bill 2015 sought to criminalise otherwise
lawful protests. The government continues to recognise the right of people to
peaceful protest, as long as they respect the law. When a protest is associated
with criminal acts such as trespass, then the protest is unlawful. The
government is currently considering potential reforms to the Restraining Orders
Act 1997 and the Criminal Code to enhance protection for farmers against
persons engaged in criminal activity. The proposed reforms are not intended to
abrogate the right to engage in lawful protest.