Erase all the maps
Forget my name
Forget my face
Forget my name
Because it’s going to rain (it’s going to rain)
And it never ends
‘Paris in Flames’ by Thursday
Thanks to the defiant street marches (1977 to 1979), Queensland has the most liberal protest laws in Australia. However the repressive nature of the laws elsewhere may result in people taking less public actions, forcing them underground. This is undesirable. You only have to look to France, where Paris is burning, to see what results from police repression. – Ian Curr, 2 July 2023
Andy and Max have both just received bail this morning in Brisbane’s Supreme Court after being remanded during Blockade Australia’s actions last week. Both have received residential bail conditions. They expect to be released shortly. Spokespeople will be onsite at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Facility to give comment.
In court, Justice Davis condemned the prosecutions submission to ‘not engage in unlawful protest’, and to ‘not attend meetings, rallies or protests’.
He commented, in response to the prosecutions claims, that ‘He (Max) is political activist … They are not a flight risk … They are standing and making their points.’
‘It is difficult when you try and distinguish between what is lawful and unlawful protest…The High Court of Australia has made a ruling protecting the right to engage in protest.’
Justice Davis went on to allude to the mistakes of the Joh Bjelke-Peterson era, in the 1980s, during which many activists were jailed for participating in protest. The Peaceful Assemblies act was passed in 1992 to protect the right to publicly assemble and protest.
Justice Davis condemned the draconian measures of the past and swiftly granted Max and Andy bail after hearing details of the blockade last week.
‘Today’s outcome is relieving. But it is not an indicator of change. Australia’s laws were written to protect the right to exploit and extract. Addressing the climate crisis requires addressing the institutional barriers to change. That includes the law, the court systems, the prisons, and the police.’ Jemika, Blockade Australia.
‘ Vickers, an activist that blockaded Port Newcastle last week, is still in remand. Jails and watch houses are full of people that this system deems a threat to its current order. We know that the real threat to all our lives and future is an economic and political model that is hell bent on endless expansion.’ Jemika, Blockade Australia.
‘The jailing of anyone will not cool the planet. Inaction threatens our collective survival. Important and effective climate action against destructive targets will continue.‘
‘There is a rally at 5pm in Musgrave park today to condemn the jailing of climate activists.’
29 June 2023
https://facebook.com/event/s/resist-repression-stand-in-sol/2206167366439708
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