Bill F.
On February 18, more than 4000 people marched from the Victorian Trades Hall to Parliament House in Melbourne to protest about state government plans to crack down on protests, picket lines and social action.
The Napthine government is introducing amendments to the Summary Offences Act which allow police to require people to "move on" if they are "causing a reasonable apprehension of violence in another person" (such as a scab?) or "undue obstruction to another person or persons in traffic" (such as a street march) or "impeding or attempting to impede another person from lawfully entering or leaving premises" (such as a picket line).
Police can also apply for an "exclusion order" from a Magistrate banning people from the area for 24 hours, with a penalty of two years jail.
Speakers at the rally included Brian Boyd, Secretary of the Victorian trades Hall Council, Kevin Bracken, Secretary of the Maritime Union, activist Father Bob MaGuire, and Anna Brown from the Human Rights Law Centre.
The Napthine government tried to justify this vicious legislation by citing a few instances of pushing and shoving at the East-West tunnel protests, but the real reasons were covered in the speech by Brian Boyd at the start of the rally.
"The politicians know that social discontent occurs when the unemployment rate rises, especially when there is no prospect of getting a new job.
"Many government policies are causing concern and angst. Planning issues, environmental issues, public transport issues, education and health issues are all negatively impacting in the community.
All of this leads to people wanting to protest, to air their grievances.
"While massive profits are sent overseas and corporate tax liabilities are avoided, basic social services are cut or reduced at the same time.
"Dr Napthine is gearing up his "law and order" machine for the backlash."
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