Perth Indymedia

The Barnett Government is trying to push through legislation to curtail our right to protest. They want to make it an offence to carry a "thing" with the 'presumed' intention of impeding lawful activity. This incredibly vague wording has horrible implications for anybody fighting for what's right in Western Australia. Read it here: http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/Bills.nsf/1E00CF48C52EF57848257DF6000AA4DF/$File/Bill114-1.pdf As the United Nations wrote this week: “The Bill would grant police disproportionate and unnecessary powers to restrict lawful protests. ... It discourages legitimate protest activity and instead, prioritizes business and government resource interests over the democratic rights of individuals. The statement also warns that “The Bill will have the chilling effect of silencing dissenters and punishing expression protected by international human rights law." The Bill was introduced in February 2015, passed in the Upper House on Thursday 18 February 2016 without going to commi