Supporters of free speech protested outside the Western Australian parliament on June 18 as Labor’s bill to dramatically limit the right to protest was tabled.
The Public Order Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 went to the Legislative Council (LC), after having been scruntinised by a Green-inspired committee.
Its first iteration gave police more powers, ostensibly to make “public safety” the determining factor for protest permit applications. It also give police expanded powers to refuse a protest permit if it may “cause animosity towards, or harassment of, a person or group of persons on a range of grounds”, including race or “ethno-religious” origin.
It allowed police to revoke a permit on receipt of “new information” which they had no obligation to share with protest organisers, who could also not respond. It criminalised the wearing of face coverings that may “intimidate” and expanded criminal offences relating to the display of Nazi symbols to children as young as 10.
The LC review committee of two Labor MP, one Liberals, one One Nation and one Green did not achieve consensus, with conservative forces declaring that the paramount consideration in allowing permits should be “public safety”.
The Australian Lawyers Alliance said this is “the most serious undermining of freedom of speech” because it could be used to silence peaceful protest and dissent. Greens MLC Sophie McNeil said the bill “will create the most restrictive permit system in the country” as the grounds for which permits can be restricted is so broad.
Parliamentary security tried, but failed, to stop 50 protesters gathering at the side entrance, with mouths taped, to conduct street theatre. They also dumped signs with the words “free speech”, “right to assembly”, “democracy and “justice” in the Dustbin of Democracy.
The Climate Drummers set up a rhythmic chant of “Kill the Bill!”. Some 20 latter-day suffragettes joined the protest, organised by Right 2 Protest WA to emphasise that “Protest makes progress”.
From a soapbox, new wave Emmeline Pankhurst gave the following speech.
“In 1913, I gave a speech called ‘Freedom or Death’ which has outlasted my own. Today it is my intention to give a reckoning. The century brought change. Protest makes progress. I celebrate our contributions to some of that progress. And make no mistake, ours was no genteel, lavender-washed, afternoon-tea style of protest. We may have worn gloves, but the metaphorical gloves were off when it came to our tactics. Please do not forget that the basic right you take for granted today was fought for with every ounce of strength and strategy we could muster.
“Many thought I was a ‘difficult woman’. As a thorn in the side of the powers-that-be I own that title with pride. However, I deeply regret my role as ‘a difficult woman’ for those whose rights I ought to have been championing. I am ashamed of the wrongs that are mine to own. In Maya Angelou’s words, ‘Do your best, until you know better, then do better.’ My best was to fight fiercely in my time. My better is to gift you the enduring spirit of my protests, minus the bitter limitations of my era and class.
“These are my words for the 21st century:
“For fifty years we have laboured peacefully to secure the vote for women, all women, regardless of class, race or gender. We have been ridiculed, battered and ignored, none more so than those who continue to be excluded in multiple ways. Now we have realised that deeds and sacrifice must be the order of the day. We are fighting for a time when every little girl, whether cis or trans, whatever her race, whatever her class, can be born into the world with an equal chance and a powerful voice. Never underestimate the power we women have to define our own destinies. We do not want to be law-breakers, we want to be law makers.
“Be militant. Each of you in your own way. Those of you who can break windows, break them. Those of you who can further attack the sacred idol of property, do so. We have been left with no alternative but to defy this government.
“And defy the government, we did. To your ultimate benefit. And those who came after us took up that struggle, challenging the ignorance and prejudice that plagued me, that plague us all. I am both contributor to and beneficiary of this monumental, ongoing human effort.
“We fought to participate in democracy. Without the right to protest, that democracy is dead.”
[Right 2 Protest WA will meet June 30 at 6pm. For more information follow Right 2 Protest WA on Instagram and Facebook or contact Maz 0447 324 660.]
