DON'T LET WA LABOR CRIMINALISE FREE SPEECH!
WA Labor is trying to pass new ‘post and boast’ laws making it illegal to disseminate, share and transmit videos and images that ‘glorify’ people who may be committing certain criminal offences.
The effect these laws will have on free speech in WA is truly chilling.
Many of the offences outlined in the bill are ones non-violent protestors are commonly charged with, such as trespass, disorderly behaviour in public and criminal damage.
Throughout history, people have engaged in various forms of civil disobedience to demand change when what’s legal isn’t necessarily the same as what’s right.
Healthy democracies generally have a degree of tolerance for unlawful acts of protest. WA Labor wants to make it a crime to share certain content in support of it.
If this bill makes it through Parliament and becomes law then you could face up to three years in jail if the cops think any of the content you've shared online glorifies or encourages others to commit crimes, including:
- Uploading content depicting certain forms of protest to social media
- Privately sharing content from these protests with your friends and family
- Resharing other people’s posts that depict these protests
The Greens have repeatedly tried to engage with WA Labor to secure amendments to fix the bill, including writing directly to the Attorney General.
They haven’t listened.
While they say it’s not their intent to criminalise the sharing of content in support of non-violent protest, WA Labor have refused to change the bill to guarantee West Australians can continue to exercise our democratic rights.
Don’t let Labor criminalise free speech.