BishopAccountability.org
	Protestors Set to Challenge WYD Laws By Katrina Fox SX July 9, 2008 http://sxnews.e-p.net.au/news/protestors-set-to-challenge-wyd-laws-3434.html Civil liberties advocates, religious and legal figures, the State Emergency Service (SES) and Rural Fire Service (RFS) have joined GLBT activists in protesting against emergency powers enacted by the NSW state government for World Youth Day. Last week Premier Morris Iemma announced that anyone doing something that may be considered ‘annoying’ – including the wearing of a controversial t-shirt – to pilgrims in a ‘declared’ zone would be subject to $5,500 fine (SX #388). However queer rights activist Rachel Evans from Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) is part of a case being brought by the NSW Council for Civil Liberties (NSWCCL) that will challenge the laws in federal court this Friday. "We are challenging the regulations, saying they are a breach of freedom of expression and right to an opinion," Evans told SX. Stephen Blanks, Secretary of the NSWCCL, said the laws infringed human rights. "These laws will be challenged," Blanks told a press conference last week. "I have spoken to many lawyers who are prepared to work pro bono to challenge the legality of these laws. We’re presently working up a case which we intend to bring before the courts and we’ll see whether the government is legally able to outlaw annoyance. It’s absurd – it’s a breach of human rights." The coalition of organisations that make up the No to Pope Coalition, spearheaded by (CAAH), will also "test the new laws" by handing out condoms in Hyde Park, a ‘declared zone’ this week, Evans said. Last week representatives from the coalition met with police to discuss 23 areas of non-compliance in their application to hold a public assembly on Saturday July 19 at Taylor Square before marching along the Mardi Gras route to Moore Park where they plan to hand out condoms to pilgrims. Among the things required by Detective Superintendent Ken McKay, Commander of World Youth Day Investigations, in a letter to Evans, seen by SX, were "details of flamboyant costumes" and "all instruments, placards, banners, flags or any other potentially dangerous items to be used". Evans branded the list as "obstacles designed to try the stop the momentum of peaceful protest". At a meeting with police on Monday the coalition responded to the queries, she added, but vowed to go ahead as planned. "We’re not intimidated," she said. Others who have publicly condemned the laws include prominent Catholic priest and lawyer, Father Frank Brennan, and President of the NSW Bar Association, Anna Katzmann. The SES and RFS said none of their volunteers would seek ‘authorised person’ status to allow them to meet out fines to protestors, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.