Protesters face jail time and $50,000 fines under new rules after disruptive climate change protests blocked traffic
- The South Australian government is proposing an anti-protest law
- Protesters face jail time and a $50,000 fine under the new laws
- It comes after climate change activists blocked roads
Protesters in South Australia could be fined $50,000 or jailed for three months under proposed changes to the state’s protest laws.
The new measures were rushed through SA’s lower house last week in response to disruptive climate change protests blocking a major road.
The proposed changes, put forward by the Labor government and backed by the opposition, will be presented to the Legislative Council this week.
Protesters blocking a public space could be fined $50,000 under the changes, a significant increase from the previous law’s $750.
Activists could also receive a three-month prison sentence, whereas previously there was no prison sentence for obstructing a public space.
Protesters face $50,000 fines and jail time under new laws introduced by the South Australian Labor government
The anti-protest law has sparked fierce reactions, with around 500 people taking to the streets last Friday to oppose the changes.
Demonstrators gathered outside Parliament House before marching down King William Street – Adelaide’s main thoroughfare.
The South Australian Greens have indicated they will strongly oppose the bill.
Greens MP Robert Simms told the ABC: ‘The government should send this bill to the trash, not to the Senate, but if they go through with it, we’ll try to pass some amendments.’
Mr Simms described the proposed changes as ‘deeply flawed’ and said he would like to add a clause so that the bill expires in 12 months.
About 80 human rights and advocacy groups have signed a letter calling on the government of Malinauskas to scrap the bill.
The proposed amendments to the Summary of Offenses Act have been sparked by an Extinction Rebellion protest last week where climate activists caused significant traffic delays in Adelaide
The anti-protest bill has sparked strong backlash, with around 500 people taking to the streets last Friday to oppose the changes in Adelaide
One of the groups, Amnesty International, released a statement condemning the amendments.
“The anti-protest bill passed through the House of Commons of South Australia will unfairly restrict our democratic right to protest if it becomes law,” it read.
“The simple act of gathering on a sidewalk to stand up for our rights can result in thousands of dollars in fines.”
“This bill follows the increasing crackdown on the right to protest in Australia in recent years,” the organization added before citing other states that have recently introduced anti-protest laws, including NSW, Tasmania and Victoria.
The Human Rights Law Center also denounced the new laws in a press release.
“If passed, the (anti-protest) laws would undermine the ability of everyone in SA to exercise their freedom for peaceful protest,” the group said in a statement.
Strict anti-protest laws were introduced in NSW last year. People who illegally protest on public roads, railway lines and tunnels could be fined $22,000 and/or jailed for up to two years.
In Victoria, the Andrews government issued tougher sentences against environmental activists who protested at logging sites in August last year.
Those who obstruct logging operations could face $21,000 or 12 months in prison under the measures.