Right to Protest

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (14:52): Supplementary: has the minister participated in protests that have involved the obstruction of the public space, and is he concerned that were he to engage in such protests in the future he would fall foul of Labor's draconian laws?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:53): I thank the honourable member for his question. I am trying to recall everything that I have been a part of over the preceding few decades. I am not sure that I would have been part of any rally, protest or demonstration that would have seen me fall foul of section 58 of the Summary Offences Act. Certainly, I have never been arrested, charged with, prosecuted or convicted of a breach of section 58 of the Summary Offences Act. Given that we are making changes to the penalties, I am not sure I will.

I know that many protests that are organised by various groups today often go through local councils to seek approval for the protests. Many protests or rallies or demonstrations have a police presence because there has been that approval process through local councils and are quite successful in winning over hearts and minds in that sort of way. Rallies like the marches during NAIDOC Week, those sorts of rallies do block off King William Street and approvals are sought from Adelaide City Council.

We have seen rallies on the steps of Parliament House where approval, as I understand it, is sought from parliament. These are very effective tools in terms of advocating for changes in our society. Long may they continue and long may we hear the will of the people through these sorts of protests, particularly those that have those sorts of permissions and are done in a safe way. I certainly wouldn't want to see people's lives or a risk of injury through more extreme forms of protest.