The new anti-protestor law before parliament is being slammed by Save Mowen Forest activists, church ministers and farmers fearful it will scare people away from peaceful protests.
The Criminal Code of Amendment (Prevention of Lawful Activity) Bill 2015 currently before state government will see protestors who block access or prevent lawful activity lumped with up to $12,000 in fines and one year in prison.
Punishment is doubled if the protestor is deemed aggressive.
Save Mowen Forest members are particularly concerned with wording in the bill that states protestors caught with a “thing” will face heavy consequences.
They assume “thing” relates to complicated mechanisms like thumb screws and head locks that made it hard to remove protestors if locked around an object.
“I don’t think it will stop people protesting in what they believe in,” a Save Mowen Forest spokesman said.
“But police will be able to arrest people who have a thing. Could someone passing by with a bike lock be arrested?”
Member for Warren-Blackwood Terry Redman said he supported community members exercising their civil liberties through peaceful protest but, does not condone action that can harm protestors or other people.
“There are no laws in Western Australia denying people the right to peacefully, reasonably and responsibly protest,” he said.
“It is a democratic right that is regularly exercised.
“The proposed laws provide police with powers to deal with dangerous protestors. The Nationals WA have full confidence that WA Police will apply the legislation responsibly.”
While preventing people chaining themselves to vehicles may be the aim of the bill, Margaret River Uniting Parish minister is worried the bill can apply to other non violent protests where people block access.
The Uniting Parish has been protesting the treatment of refugee children in detention centres and has been holding sit in protests with many parishioners being arrested.
“I think people should have a right to express themselves,” Margaret River Uniting Parish minister Cathie Lambert said.
Before hosting protests the church had put forward suggestions to house the children but these were turned down.
Mowen forest protestors also offered the state government $100,000, the price they estimated the government would profit from the logging, which was also turned down.
“When negotiations fail and people are not willing to listen what else is there to do,” Rev Lambert said.
“This new law will make it hard to protest and as people caught with a “thing” could be charged.”
