Done By Law

HIGH COURT DECISION AND CIVIL LIBERTIES

In 2008 the South Australian government introduced ‘the world’s toughest anti-bikie laws’.

The legislation is designed to ‘disrupt and dismantle criminal bikie gangs’ and, some said, went too far in curtailing civil rights and liberties.

Earlier this month, the High Court of Australia agreed, and struck down the control orders as unconstitutional. Tonight we are joined by Dr Patrick Emerton, Lecturer at Monash University, to discuss the High Court’s decision and explain the implications for civil liberties in Australia.

A Stifling Climate: Democracy, Coal Protest Laws and the Climate Movement

A forum was held on Thursday 5 August about two new offences created by the Victorian parliament late last year specifically aimed at deterring protest activity at coal-fired power stations. Panel members discuss the legal and civil liberties implications of the laws as well as the ways to understand and respond to this narrowing of the space for political participation.

In the pod cast, the context of the new laws is explained, Felicity Milner, Principle Solicitor at the Environmental Defenders Office provides a legal briefing on the two new sections and Brian Walters SC argues the laws breach key civil and political rights. Unfortunately due to technical problems the presentations given by Ellen Roberts on the role of direct action in the climate movement was not recorded.