The Human Rights Law Centre is reiterating calls for the Minns Government to repeal its draconian anti-protest laws, following the excessive use of force from NSW Police at a protest, resulting in one protester sustaining serious injuries.

Last year, the Human Rights Law Centre’s Protest in Peril report found that the right to protest has been under attack by governments and institutions over the last 20 years, with NSW having passed the most anti-protest laws across Australia during that time, including two more in the past 7 months.

Peaceful protest has been critical to Australia’s historic human rights achievements, from the right to vote, the decriminalisation of homosexuality, Aboriginal land rights, and the eight hour workday.

David Mejia-Canales, Senior Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre said: 

“The right to protest peacefully, and free from violence, is fundamental to our democracy. The NSW Police have serious questions to answer about the excessive use of force and violence that has resulted in serious injury at what, by all public accounts, was a peaceful protest.

“The Minns Government’s draconian anti-protest laws have set the tone for heavy-handed policing and the repressive treatment of protesters in NSW.

“The Minns Government was warned that vague laws restricting protest near places of worship would be misused to silence people peacefully speaking out.

“Anti-protest laws do not prevent racism or keep communities safe, they do the exact opposite. We are now seeing the dangerous consequences of expanded police powers and restricted protest rights.

“NSW has some of the most restrictive, anti-democratic and repressive anti-protest laws in the country. These laws must be repealed urgently, and our right to protest and hold governments and corporations accountable on our streets must be protected.”