Protests exempt from curb

Press, 17 June 1988, Page 1

Protests exempt from curb

By

PETER LUKE,

political reporter

Public protests and demonstrations are exempt from Government measures to curb intimidation in public places. The Disorderly Assemblies and Restrictions on Association Bill gives the police power to disperse groups to enable the public to walk along the streets without fear of violence or intimidation.

But the bill, specifically excludes public protests and demonstrations.

Mr Palmer said that the rights of legitimate political speech and action were fundamental, and the existing law was adequate to deal with protest action which went beyond the; law.

He did not believe this exemption would cause great difficulties. ■ ■ ’

“It is in the nature of demonstrations, pickets and the like that the cause which is being espoused is made public,” he said.

“By the same token, there is really not much scope for facile assertions of a political purpose by people who are simply loitering in a public place to the detriment of others.” It would be no excuse for a group to suddenly argue to the police that their motives were political. In difficult cases the police and ultimately the courts would have to decide whether the r motive was genuine~br spurious.

However, the Opposition spokesman on justice, Mr Paul East, said this provision was “a loophole waiting to be walked through.” - “The Mongrel Mob at the District Court will claim they are demonstrating against white man’s justice. The Black Power at the Social Welfare office will be demonstrating against unemployment, and the Mongrel Mob at the public bar will be demonstrating against the prospective Sale of Liquor Act which they don’t like." Gang members were cunning and knew more about the law than many lawyers, Mr East said. More on bill, page 4