New assembly laws introduced
By Bill Mason
BRISBANE — Around 200 people rallied in the Queen Street Mall here on May 22 to defend the right of free speech, in the wake of the introduction of new public assembly laws by attorney-general Dean Wells on May 21.
The new laws, which overturn the Bjelke-Petersen government's repressive ban on street marches, have been generally welcomed by civil liberties groups for legislating the right to march and assemble in public.
"The business community, the Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties have all welcomed the bill as a reasonable compromise which balances the interest of all", Wells declared.
However, business interests, led by the City Heart Association, have whipped up opposition to any public assemblies in the Brisbane Mall. The campaign has been supported by Labor Mayor Jim Soorley.
As speakers at the May 22 rally pointed out, by allowing local councils to severely restrict assemblies in pedestrian malls, the state government has merely passed the buck and given councils and businesses control over free speech in the public places where it counts most.
Speakers, including Chris Griffith from the Queensland Watchdog Committee and Mark Horstman from the Australian Conservation Council, stressed the need to continue and extend the free speech campaign to ensure the right of assembly and political activity in the Queen Street Mall, Brisbane's main public gathering place.