Parliamentary kerfuffle: Protest at protest over anti-protest law

 Activists planned to disrupt the passing of new anti-protest laws, but say they were kicked out of Victoria's Upper House  before they had the chance.

By YE YUAN

ACTIVISTS were dragged from Parliament by police during the passing of the Summary  Offences and Sentencing Amendment Bill last month, a Bill designed to curb protesters.

The new law gives police and protective services officers the power to arrest and fine protesters who refuse to move on after being told to do so. The government admits it will put limits both on free speech and the right to protest peacefully.

“It’s depressing to think that the current state government does not even need to sugar-coat their Draconian measures,” says Sean Bedlam, a veteran activist.

“Throughout this, there was a real sense of how hilarious or how ridiculous this is all was, we the people are being dragged out of our own house.”

None of the Coalition MPs present agreed to comment, but a media adviser for MP Bernie Finn, who spoke strongly in support of the Bill, said that the activists had been protesting in the House prior to their eviction. They had badly disrupted Parliament and this was the reason they were removed, he said.

Attorney-General Robert Clark told The Age the Bill gave police powers they needed, to be able to move protesters away from trouble spots - and make them stay away.

Ye Yuan's video report:

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