What are we being protected from?

Thousands of Sydney-siders turned out today, in what is likely to be one of the largest demonstrations of collective activism in recent years, protesting government inaction on climate change. Young and old filled Sydney’s Domain, demanding our politicians take the threat of climate change seriously, and act now before it’s too late.

In contrast, we have seen Federal and State governments attack the freedom of the press, and supposedly in the â€œinterests of national security”, table legislation to significantly curb the rights of free speech, activism and whistle blowers. 

The recent Australian Federal Police raids on ABC Sydney headquarters and the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurs, was a significant overstep by the Federal Government, and with a parliamentary inquiry into freedom of the press, top officials are struggling to agree whether public interest journalism is a crime. 

But it’s not only the media that the Government is trying to gag.

The Criminal Code Amendment (Agricultural Protection) Bill 2019 – or Ag Gag laws, currently before the Senate, if passed, will create harsher penalties for activists who are deemed to incite others to trespass on farms. Similar legislation is either planned or has been passed in several states.These new laws impose tougher sentences on those seeking to expose animal cruelty, than those who have committed the abuse.

While Illegal trespassing is not an effective or sustainable way to address farm animal welfare, exposés play a crucial role in shining a light on abhorrent practices that otherwise would remain unnoticed – and not just on the farm. Recent live export coverage again highlighted the barbaric nature of live export – yet the practice continues. 

New laws would also criminalize organisations that use social media or websites, “to transmit, make available, publish or otherwise distribute material” with an intention to incite another person to trespass on agricultural land.

So when did truth and transparency become the enemy? And why are both Labour and Coalition leaders spouting the same “vegan terrorist” rhetoric?

The Law Council of Australia expressed serious concerns about the adequacy of exemptions for journalists and whistle-blowers, suggesting they were not strong enough to provide adequate protection.

Gabrielle Bashir, co-chair, National Criminal Law Committee told the Senate committee that the proposed bill was too broad, with an unintended consequence of â€œstifling legitimate public debate”. 

Potential implications for the not-for-profit sector are also alarming, with threats of removing charitable status from any organisation found to be in breach of the new laws. 

Apparently, our government is acting under the premise of “protecting our interests” – but what exactly are we being protected from – and why isn’t there a similar political urgency to protect our environment?