High Court win defending the right to protest in Tasmania
PROJECT | Democratic Freedoms
Freedom of speech and the right to protest are essential for a healthy, vibrant democracy. In October 2017, in a landmark decision, the High Court protected these fundamental values, ruling that Tasmania’s anti-protest laws violated Australia’s Constitution.
In 2016, Bob Brown was arrested on a public road while filming a video about a logging project in Tasmania’s native Lapoinya forest. Activist Jessica Hoyt was arrested under similar circumstances. Together, they courageously challenged the excessive anti-protest laws that led to their arrests.
The Human Rights Law Centre was proud to intervene to support their case and provide expert legal submissions to the High Court. The High Court ruled that the Tasmanian anti-protest laws were too broad, too vague and too harsh. They prioritised corporate interests over our right to protest and criminalised peaceful protest in public spaces.
The laws are part of a disturbing pattern, with many state governments pursuing excessive laws designed to stifle peaceful protest. The Human Rights Law Centre continues push back against new incursions on our right to protest.
Acknowledgement of Country
The Human Rights Law Centre acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia, including the lands of the Wurundjeri, Boon Wurrung, Gadigal, Ngunnawal, Darug and Wadawurrung people where we work from.
We pay our respect to Elders past and present. This land always was, and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
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