LABOUR AND THE LAW
PROTECTING POLITICIANS
REFORM BILL CRITICISED
SYDNEY, 6th May.
Introducing the Law Reform Bill in the Legislative Assembly, Mr. A. A. Lysaght, Attorney-General, said that under the Bill barristers would be free to discard their wigs and gowns. .- Another important provision would make air defamatory statements in the Press or on the platform a criminal offence. "I intend to protect every public man from blackguardly and slanderous statements in the Press and upon tho platform," he said. Mr. T. R. Bavin, Leader of the Opposition, declared that this provision would be like a double-edged sword. He would not be intimidated, and added that anybody who indulgedin criticism'for the public, good would risk imprisonment. The whole idea was absurd and impracticable, indeed laughable. If the Labour Party stood for this, they should for ever cease prating about their love of freedom of speech. The debate was adjourned.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 106, 7 May 1931, Page 11
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149LABOUR AND THE LAW Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 106, 7 May 1931, Page 11
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