CRITICS have labelled the Baird Government’s anti-protest laws as an attempt to quash free speech. The legislation, passed last week, will see people fined up to $5500 for entering enclosed lands and risk a maximum jail sentence of seven years if found interfering with sites (including “locking on” during protests). The laws specifically target anti-coal seam gas (CSG) and anti-mining protesters and increase police powers to issue move on orders, search and seize. Mt Rae resident Mark Selmes said the laws were seen among activists as a “way to try and silence community voices”. A librarian for 22 years and now a forest activist (better known as Cranky Koala), Mr Selmes first became involved in non-violent peaceful direct action (NVDA) after lobbying for increased protection of the Mt Rae forest from firewood logging. “After years of wearing suits and ties and being on committees and doing things as people say ‘the right way’, I realised that the results were still wrong,” he said. “I believe now . . . that non violent peaceful direct action is the only way the average person can actually be heard.” Mr Selmes said the new laws would not deter people from protesting against CSG operations, but would have broader implications for those protesting other issues. “In Australia, we’ve started to find our voice again through non violent direct action. We’ve learnt we haven’t been listened to. This is clearly an attempt to scare people away from being involved . . . “While the threat of these penalties will hang like a cloud over many people, I think that many others will realise they are a genuine threat to free speech and that long held right of action. “Many people will see it for what it is that people standing up aren’t ‘ecofascists’ and that it’s actually undemocratic. It could potentially bring out more people who realise there is a bigger picture here.” He claimed the move to reduce fines for illegal mining was evidence the Baird Government was listening to the voices of “big business”. “The Baird government has made it clear with the passing of these laws who they really represent in NSW,” he said. “How can the LNP be taken seriously as representing the interest of individuals when these laws reduce the fines for illegal mining from a potential million dollars to $5,000, while increasing the fine for merely stepping on to enclosed lands from $500 to $5500? A larger fine than for illegal mining. There is one set of laws for the rich and one for the rest of us.” Debated in both the lower house and upper house last week, Goulburn MP Pru Goward voted in favour of the laws. The Goulburn Post made several attempts to contact Ms Goward for comment on this issue, but calls and emails were not returned.
BLINKY BILL: Activists, including Mt Rae's Mark Selmes (as Cranky Koala) held up several coal trains in protest of Whitehaven’s vegetation clearing in February. Photo: Northern Daily Leader.
CRITICS have labelled the Baird Government’s anti-protest laws as an attempt to quash free speech.
The legislation, passed last week, will see people fined up to $5500 for entering enclosed lands and risk a maximum jail sentence of seven years if found interfering with sites (including “locking on” during protests).
The laws specifically target anti-coal seam gas (CSG) and anti-mining protesters and increase police powers to issue move on orders, search and seize.
Mt Rae resident Mark Selmes said the laws were seen among activists as a “way to try and silence community voices”.
A librarian for 22 years and now a forest activist (better known as Cranky Koala), Mr Selmes first became involved in non-violent peaceful direct action (NVDA) after lobbying for increased protection of the Mt Rae forest from firewood logging.
“After years of wearing suits and ties and being on committees and doing things as people say ‘the right way’, I realised that the results were still wrong,” he said.
“I believe now . . . that non violent peaceful direct action is the only way the average person can actually be heard.”
Mr Selmes said the new laws would not deter people from protesting against CSG operations, but would have broader implications for those protesting other issues.
“In Australia, we’ve started to find our voice again through non violent direct action. We’ve learnt we haven’t been listened to. This is clearly an attempt to scare people away from being involved . . .
“While the threat of these penalties will hang like a cloud over many people, I think that many others will realise they are a genuine threat to free speech and that long held right of action.
“Many people will see it for what it is that people standing up aren’t ‘ecofascists’ and that it’s actually undemocratic. It could potentially bring out more people who realise there is a bigger picture here.”
He claimed the move to reduce fines for illegal mining was evidence the Baird Government was listening to the voices of “big business”.
“The Baird government has made it clear with the passing of these laws who they really represent in NSW,” he said.
“How can the LNP be taken seriously as representing the interest of individuals when these laws reduce the fines for illegal mining from a potential million dollars to $5,000, while increasing the fine for merely stepping on to enclosed lands from $500 to $5500? A larger fine than for illegal mining. There is one set of laws for the rich and one for the rest of us.”
Debated in both the lower house and upper house last week, Goulburn MP Pru Goward voted in favour of the laws.
The Goulburn Post made several attempts to contact Ms Goward for comment on this issue, but calls and emails were not returned.
