Save the Right to Protest in SA

Save the Right to Protest in SA

The South Australian Government, with support from the Opposition, is attempting to rush new laws that will significantly restrict the right to peaceful protest in South Australia.

The Summary Offences (Obstruction of Public Places) Amendment Bill 2023 was rammed through the House of Assembly on 18 May and is being debated in the Legislative Council now!

If passed, it will increase the penalty for obstructing a public place by more than 60 times, exposing peaceful protestors to fines of up to $50,000 or a life-changing 3 month jail sentence.

The Bill also broadens the offence to include people who ...

The South Australian Government, with support from the Opposition, is attempting to rush new laws that will significantly restrict the right to peaceful protest in South Australia.

The Summary Offences (Obstruction of Public Places) Amendment Bill 2023 was rammed through the House of Assembly on 18 May and is being debated in the Legislative Council now!

If passed, it will increase the penalty for obstructing a public place by more than 60 times, exposing peaceful protestors to fines of up to $50,000 or a life-changing 3 month jail sentence.

The Bill also broadens the offence to include people who indirectly obstruct a public place.

These laws will have a chilling effect on South Australians' freedom to engage in peaceful protest action.

Without the right to come together, disturb and disrupt, to speak up against injustice we would not have the eight-hour working day, and women would not be able to vote.

Laws with human rights impacts should not be rammed through parliament in a matter of days. This is not how good laws are made.

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Telephone your MLCs: Call on them to block SA's flawed Anti-Protest Bill

Take urgent action to protect the right to peaceful protest in South Australia. 

Telephone your MLC's office on Tuesday and call on them to reject the Summary Offences (Obstruction of Public Places) Amendment Bill 2023 in its entirety. 

It's easy, we've suggested what to say over the phone below - or you can adapt this to include your own personal story about why the right to engage in peaceful protest is important to you.

Introduce yourself

Tell the person who answers the phone your name and the suburb you live in.

If you stumble a bit, don't worry, it just makes it more obvious you’re a genuine South Aussie who really cares.

Explain why you’re calling 

  • I am telephoning to call on (say the name of the MLC) to protect democratic rights and freedoms in South Australia by rejecting the Summary Offences (Obstruction of Public Places) Amendment Bill.

Outline why you ...

Introduce yourself

Tell the person who answers the phone your name and the suburb you live in.

If you stumble a bit, don't worry, it just makes it more obvious you’re a genuine South Aussie who really cares.

Explain why you’re calling 

  • I am telephoning to call on (say the name of the MLC) to protect democratic rights and freedoms in South Australia by rejecting the Summary Offences (Obstruction of Public Places) Amendment Bill.

Outline why you're calling

Be specific about your concerns:
  • I am really concerned that this Bill is being rushed. This is not how good laws are made.
  • There has been no proper scrutiny of the Bill to make sure that it is a reasonable, proportionate or constitutional limit on my fundamental democratic rights and freedoms.
  • I believe that in a democracy like SA, people should be able to engage in peaceful protest without the threat of crippling $50,000 fines or a 3 month prison sentence. 
  • Without the right to peaceful protest we would not have the eight-hour working day and women would not be able to vote.
    •
  • The lack of time to scrutinise this Bill also means we dont really know if it could have unintended consequences for anyone who uses public places in SA.
  • I believe that in a democracy like SA the parliament should take the time to consider everyone's human rights and consult with the community before it makes new laws.

Ask for their support

Wrap up your conversation by clearly asking the MLC to act. Be as direct as you can, such as asking:
  • Will (name of MLC) commit to protecting the fundamental democratic rights and freedoms of all South Australians by blocking this rushed Anti-Protest Bill?

After the call

Were you able to get any commitments from the politician or their office?

Write down everything you can remember as soon as you can after you hang up and let us know what they said: [email protected].

Make your call count, tell us how it went

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