Protest in Peril
REPORT | Read the report
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The right to protest is fundamental to our democracy. But governments across Australia have criminalised people who are peacefully protesting by proliferating a worrying number of anti-protest laws. The right to protest is in peril in Australia.
The Protest in Peril report analysed and compiled every single bill across Australia over the last two decades which has impacted upon the right to protest, and has found people’s ability to come together freely and peacefully to speak out on issues they care about is being steadily eroded in Australia.
Over the past two decades, 49 laws affecting protest have been introduced in federal, state and territory parliaments. New South Wales has introduced the most anti-protest laws, while South Australia has the toughest financial penalties with fines of up to $50,000 for common protests. These laws have disproportionately targeted environmental defenders and people advocating for action on climate change.
The report recommends governments to:
repeal anti-protest laws;
ensure laws meet the minimum standards set out in the Declaration of the Right to Protest; and
introduce human rights acts across federal, state and territory governments
Donate to protect the right to protest in Australia
Images provided courtesy of the National Archives of Australia and Greenpeace.