WHAT HAPPENED TO AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRACY?

Would you like to live in a country that outlaws peaceful protests?

A government that can throw you in jail for 2 years or fine you $50,000 for the simple act of speaking freely as a collective or inidividual?

This is the REALITY South Australians face after the ANTI-PROTEST BILL was rushed through the South Australian Lower House on the 18th May 2023, with the intention of making it a new LAW today.

The ANTI-PROTEST LAW will unfairly restrict our democratic right to protest.⁠ The simple act of gathering on a footpath to stand up for our rights could give you a criminal record. 

''When courageous people protest, we make the world a better place.''

Throughout history protesting has ended wars, slavery, gender inequality, apartheid, environmental destruction and much more.

This Bill changes the wording from “wilfully” obstructing a public place to “intentionally or recklessly” obstructing a public place. The addition of “recklessly” means even those unintentionally obstructing a public place could be harshly penalised. 

That also means homeless people or people experiencing a mental health crisis could face $50,000 fines or simply be locked up!

 

YEAR UPON YEAR THE GOVERNMENT IS STRIPPING OUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS:

This Bill follows increasing repression of the right to protest in Australia in recent years.

In 2022, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania introduced anti-protest laws which impose thousands of dollars in fines and prison sentences on protestors engaged in civil disobedience.

Protests have been central in achieving social and political changes ⁠— South Australia became the first place in the world where women could stand for election, and the second place in the world where women could vote.

Protests aren’t always convenient. But freedom of assembly is a fundamental right. The right to protest is how we hold governments and big business to account when all other avenues fail, but powerful people in Australia and around the world are cracking down on our right to protest. 

It must be PROTECTED.

Freedom is what Australians have voted for over decades, what our ancestors fought for and continue to fight for, and is the pillar of democracy  that Australia prides itself on.

We have stayed silent for too long. It's now or never.

If this bill becomes Law, remaining States may adopt this, so we must ask ourselves, where do we go as a nation from there?

Future generations will merely be puppets, forced into submission, unable to enjoy the freedom to decide what to say, eat, wear, or where to live or how to travel.

Please sign this petition and share over social media and email, and help us make a difference.