Mia Davies
Opponents to WA’s anti-protest legislation gathered to rally on the steps of Parliament. The Bill would allow for the arrest of protesters who lock themselves to objects such as trees or machinery to prevent lawful activity. Source: Perth Now
The Bill passed through the Upper House without amendment last week. It is set to get the nod in the Lower House as the Liberal State Government has the numbers.
Greens MP Lynn MacLaren said the issue “isn’t going away”.
“It will only become a louder noise as we get closer to the state election,” she said.
“Hopefully we’ll never see anyone arrested for this offence and we can repeal it when a change of government or a change of minister occurs.”
Forestry minister Mia Davies told reporters the laws were needed.
“I have protesters that chain themselves to trees, to machinery in the forests, and they’re putting themselves and also the workers in danger,” she said.
“I have absolutely no problem with people peacefully protesting.
“But when you are chaining yourself to a concrete block or putting yourself into thumb locks, are preventing people from going about their lawful business as they are in some of our forests … we’ve seen experiences of it up in the Burrup and I think it’s dangerous.”
Premier Colin Barnett said last week he believed the laws were necessary after protests in 2012 prevented work at Woodside’s Browse gas processing plant project at James Price Point.
When the company put the project on hold Mr Barnett said Woodside “basically got scared away because of the insults and threats to their employees”.
Attorney General Michael Mischin denied the Criminal Code Amendment (Prevention of Lawful Activity Bill) was an anti-protest law, saying there were narrow circumstances under which it would be applied.
It targeted extreme behaviour, he said, adding the debate had been “hijacked by labels and mantras”.
“There’s a subtle distinction in it but it’s an important one,” Mr Mischin said. “Someone locking themselves as an immovable obstacle, locking themselves onto a vehicle to prevent it from being driven, is interference with the owner’s lawful activity.”
The legislation, which was introduced in February last year, has drawn criticism from human rights lawyers and UN rapporteurs.
