Anti-protest laws

A couple of hundred people rallied outside NSW parliament house and several dozen locked onto its fence in an action advertised as The World's Biggest Lock-on. The rally was called in opposition to the recently passed anti-protest law that carries up to seven years' in jail for 鈥渦nlawful protest鈥 鈥 such as blockading a CSG drill site.
A broad coalition of forces continues to challenge anti-protest legislation tabled in the Western Australian state parliament. If passed, the broad powers of the Criminal Code Amendment (Prevention of Lawful Activity) Bill will make it a criminal offence to be in possession of an unnamed 鈥渢hing鈥 or to disrupt "lawful activities". The bill also threatens two year鈥檚 jail and $24,000 fines for impeding lawful activity. Widely criticised by environmental, social justice, and legal campaigners the law smashes free speech and criminalises peaceful protest.