High cost of protest action

TASMANIAN taxpayers will foot a legal bill estimated at $170,000 for the failed defence of a High Court challenge to the state’s controversial antiprotest laws, Greens leader Cassy O’Connor says.

The High Court on Wednesday ruled parts of the laws breached the Australian Constitution.

The ruling came after a challenge by former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown and conservationist Jessica Hoyt.

In State Parliament yesterday, Ms O’Connor asked Premier Will Hodgman if he would read the Constitution before coming up with his policies for the next election.

“The entire country now knows a bad law brought in by your government has led to a landmark High Court decision affirming the right to peaceful protest, the right to stand up to protect the environment,” Ms O’Connor said.

“The court has also awarded costs against the state in the order, we understand, of around $170,000.

“Now your anti-protest law has been found to be unlawful and invalid, will you commit to reading the Australian Constitution before formulating your policies for the next election, so you are not trying to sell Tasmanians illegal policies and huge lawyers costs?”

Mr Hodgman said his party was the only one in Parliament willing to stand up against “radical extremist protesters” — but he accepted the High Court’s decision in relation to costs.

“That matter has not yet been quantified and we will release details of any costs as they become known,” Mr Hodgman said.

“The High Court said in its summary that a majority of the court held that the Protesters Act pursued the legitimate purpose of protecting businesses and their operations by ensuring that protesters do not prevent, hinder or obstruct the carrying out business activities on business premises.

“The entire set of laws we brought to this place or that passed through the Parliament is not invalid.

“We accept the findings of the High Court that certain provisions designed to achieve this in respect of forestry land are invalid,” he said.