The end of protests for Melbourne? Ukrainians in Melbourne march in protest against Russian invasion of Ukraine.Source: News Corp Australia
PROTESTERS who participated yesterday in Melbourne’s March in March could have protested their final cause.
Last week a new law was passed in Victorian State Parliament, colloquially dubbed the ‘anti-protest’ law by its opposers.
Despite a demonstration by unionists protesting the ‘anti-protest’ law, it was passed in the upper house of the Victorian parliament on Tuesday, March 11. The decision was met with outrage from the public gallery.
Protesters stormed State Parliament to express their opposition to the new law. Up to 20 protesters entered the public gallery shortly after 8pm and began chanting and yelling at members of Parliament, reports the Herald Sun .
Police were called to remove the demonstrators, who were forcibly escorted from the building.
The amended Summary Offences Act, or ‘anti-protest’ law will give police greater powers to take action against protesters who are blocking access to buildings, obstructing people and traffic, or who could turn violent. The new law also specifies a police ‘move-on’ order.
The change will also enable courts to issue exclusion orders, preventing troublemakers from entering a particular public space for up to 12 months.
Some members of the public chose to share their reaction to the new law on social media.
This law was passed just days before the March in March protest in Melbourne, part of a larger national event.
The law will not come into effect until September, so yesterday’s demonstrations took place without the contentious new rules governing them.
The March in March’s official event page included a comment about the law.
“At 1am this morning the Vic State government — Napthine’s government — debated and then passed a new law that will take effect on Sep [sic] 1st ... As we know protesters are people who feel strongly about something that they see as wrong and have no other way to express that but to protest, and maybe (not in our case) make life difficult for the powers that be in the process. That is a democracy. This new law flies in the face of a healthy democracy.”
What do you think about the new law? Comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ | @gracekoelma
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