Happening now in Qld Parliament: we're now debating Labor's laws against peaceful protest. Switching off the smoke alarm instead of fighting the fire. Police Minister Ryan started giving his speech, but was interrupted by lunch (1-2pm). I'll let you know when we're back.
We're back on protest laws. Several Labor and LNP members have already spoken. Right now David Crisafulli (LNP) is giving a hyperventilating speech about Extinction Rebellion "their sole aim is anarchy."
Wrong. Climate justice is about love. Love for our home & for each other.
Wrong. Climate justice is about love. Love for our home & for each other.
Jim Madden (Labor) is up now. He says "we could have done a better job" of explaining why the bill is necessary. His union was represented at the rally yesterday condemning the laws. He pivots directly back to talking points from the Police Minister's speech almost word for word.
Madden refers to economic losses, specifically the govt's claim that Aurizon lost $1.3m when coal trains were delayed. Oops! When we asked Aurizon about that figure, they said the government pulled it from a media report, and Aurizon has never published it anywhere. 
The LNP have proposed some truly terrifying amendments. Labor has started a stupid culture war they can't win.
1/ Unlawful assembly: 3 or more people where one seems likely (even vaguely) to "cause traffic congestion" or interfere w/ use of a public place. Penalty: 1yr in prison
1/ Unlawful assembly: 3 or more people where one seems likely (even vaguely) to "cause traffic congestion" or interfere w/ use of a public place. Penalty: 1yr in prison
This is **exactly** what the unions, the Greens and many others warned about. If the LNP win, these laws will be turned on other "troublesome" type who embarrass the government.
The LNP are also proposing to broaden the already very broad definition of criminalised devices to include any kind of fastening. They also want MANDATORY SENTENCES of 7 days' prison for anyone twice convicted. This is really police state stuff.
Further on LNP amdts: 2/ Reverse the presumption in favour of bail for those using "dangerous attachment devices" who commit a range of offences including minor ones like ignoring a police direction to move.
Lots of members have referred repeatedly to concrete-filled barrels containing "butane" and "aerosol canisters". This confirms MPs haven't paid any attention to the evidence in the inquiry. This turned out to be a ***rumour*** from 2005. theguardian.com/australia-news…
Nick Dametto (KAP) is concerned that farmers might not be able to protest under these laws. Climate protestors disrupting traffic: "I'm dead against that .. but I want to make it clear that if farmers want to disrupt traffic in Brisbane, we'd support that". Unbelievable.
Julieanne Gilbert (Labor): Our families are the ones who load the coal and are affected. She says protestors wanting to save the environment is an "insult" because Mackay generates 1/3 of electricity from sugar cane cogen and because they have solar.
Gilbert's speech is deeply sad. To keep us safe from dangerous climate breakdown we need Labor to join us pushing to make a better world, with 100% publicly owned clean energy and homes for all. They need to break with the coal billionaires, but they're just not listening.
Our enemy is not coal workers, or everyday Queenslanders in Mackay or anywhere else. Our enemy is the fossil fuel billionaire mining companies who pay next to no tax and who are pushing us all towards a truly dangerous future. The answer is solidarity, not pointless culture wars.
Tim Nicholls (LNP) is giving meandering speech, mostly about organised crime, drugs and bikies. Occasionally criticising the "stupid idiots" who disrupt traffic because of the "pretend climate emergency".
Looooooots of MPs today trying to give protestors lessons about getting action on climate change. So far "stand on the side of the road", "have a march", "get a permit".
This is a wee bit rich from two parties who want to dig up & burn the world's biggest untapped coal basin.
This is a wee bit rich from two parties who want to dig up & burn the world's biggest untapped coal basin.
Dan Purdie (LNP) giving a very "debate club" speech. "Extinction rebellion claim to be non-violent civil disobendience, but they *do* commit acts of violence: against themselves and against infrastructure"
Folks, sound the "violence against inanimate objects" klaxon! 🚨🚨🚨
Folks, sound the "violence against inanimate objects" klaxon! 🚨🚨🚨
Phew. We're taking a break from protest laws now. The LNP are moving a motion about healthcare, & we'll be debating it for 1hr (in Qld Parli this Opposition motion is called "the Scream" for obvious reasons). Strangely no mention of that time the LNP sacked thousands of nurses.
Now we've got a sec, let's reflect on the LNP's amdts including this..
If a cop thinks that a random bystander thinks that you or either of your two friends look like you might cause "traffic congestion" .. it's off to jail for you!
Can't see this ever being abused eh?
If a cop thinks that a random bystander thinks that you or either of your two friends look like you might cause "traffic congestion" .. it's off to jail for you!
Can't see this ever being abused eh?
Remember: police powers to strip search, arrest & question are ALREADY used disproportionately against First Nations people and people of colour. Taking any kind of risky or confrontational protest action carries the risk of imprisonment or death. These laws + amdts make it worse
Highlights from the peanut gallery so far:
...and 🤣
We're on The Scream till 6pm, then we'll debate the protest laws bill till 7pm when we adjourn. Here's the speaking list after me.. this means we won't get to the end of the debate tonight. I'd expect a final vote on the bill tomorrow morning.
I'm about to jump for my speech on the protest laws bill. You can watch the whole debate here: tv.parliament.qld.gov.au
Up front in my speech: We are on the edge of a cliff. The best scientists in the world are telling us we have 10 years to completely retool our economy, green our cities and restore the land. If we don’t, things will get really, really ugly.
More killer bushfires, longer droughts, more extreme weather, food shortages, advancing deserts, loss of ancient landscapes, mass displacement of millions of climate refugees. Wars over water. That’s the danger, but the solutions are within reach.
Those solutions are what peaceful protestors who have forced issue to the surface are striving for: 100% clean energy, no new coal mines, a jobs-rich transition & real justice for First Nations people who are already on the front lines of climate change. In short, a better world.
Without peaceful, disruptive but non-violent protests, we wouldn’t have votes for women and First Nations people, a woman’s right to choose, the defeat of military conscription, the 8 hour working day and the 5 day working week. These were often illegal at the time.
When the Premier tells the kids in the School Strike for Climate Justice to go on strike on the weekend (??), she forgets that without disruptive and sometimes unlawful protests, we wouldn’t have a weekend. It’s time to stop shutting off the smoke alarm & start fighting the fire.
I strongly support Extinction Rebellion & their tactics, even though, like any movement, sometimes they get things wrong, sometimes they could listen better, especially to the voices of First Nations people on the front lines of climate change and state violence.
The point is that those brave people, putting their liberty on the line to make a safe future for everyone. None of the politicians in this place have any moral authority to lecture anyone about climate action.
I've finished up my speech - I'll post a video when that's possible. After me, the Chamber heard from Don Brown. He opens strong with "This is nothing like the Joh years.. where is Special Branch? Nowhere to be seen."
I'm not *quite* sure this is such a slam-dunk argument, Don.
I'm not *quite* sure this is such a slam-dunk argument, Don.
Dale Last (LNP) (an ex-police officer) coming out with some real corkers. Extinction Rebellion are "bullies".. then rambling on about how even offences like begging in public carry 6 months in prison, so how can we be sure that protestors really will go to prison?
These people have raised the right to freedom from traffic congestion to high religion.
Really hoping this comes out next time we're arguing for better, cheaper public transport 🤞🤞🤞
Really hoping this comes out next time we're arguing for better, cheaper public transport 🤞🤞🤞
Some amusing interjections that the mics and TV wouldn't have picked up:
Colin Boyce (LNP) while I was talking about climate change: "F*cking b*llsh*t, look at the data!"
Jason Costigan (kicked out of the LNP): "Come to Whitsunday and say that!"
Colin Boyce (LNP) while I was talking about climate change: "F*cking b*llsh*t, look at the data!"
Jason Costigan (kicked out of the LNP): "Come to Whitsunday and say that!"
Time's up and we're are done for the night. Debate starts again tomorrow (starting ~11.15am).
If you're in Qld, the @QldGreens will need your ideas, time and $ in 2020 as we take on the coal billionaires & their parties. greens.org.au/qld
If you're in Qld, the @QldGreens will need your ideas, time and $ in 2020 as we take on the coal billionaires & their parties. greens.org.au/qld
