Brisbane free speech campaign resumes
By Cameron S. Boyd
BRISBANE — Some 100 people rallied on May 8 in the Queen Street Mall to generate public support for the freedom of speech campaign in Brisbane.
Speakers included Terry Fisher, a civil liberties lawyer, Sandy Brown, Women's Rights Officer at Queensland University, Chris Griffith of the Queensland Watchdog Committee, and Mark Horstman from the Australian Conservation Foundation.
Freedom of speech in the mall is under attack by ALP Lord Mayor Jim Soorley. In an attempt to get around draft legislation which would allow free speech in the mall, Soorley proposed a speakers' corner at King George Square, where few people pass by.
Public assemblies, speeches, and demonstrations as well as distribution of papers and leaflets in the main thoroughfare of the city are a feature of political activity in Brisbane. A ban on the city mall is a ban on free speech.
"You simply cannot reach the truth of a matter unless people can really discuss it ... and reach some form of consensus. It [Queen Street Mall] is a public place, a place where we have the right to speak, and unless we take up that opportunity and right every time, it will be slowly eroded from us", said Fisher.
"The bill gives us nothing, absolutely nothing ... that we don't already have. What we should be demanding from this government is the right to march without permits, the right to peacefully assemble, the right to hand out leaflets and picket."
After several interruptions by the police, a resolution was passed unanimously by those assembled:
"This rally expresses its concerns at the recent suggestion by the City Council to restrict the rights to leaflet, assemble, speak, display placards and sell radical literature in the mall. We therefore
"1. Resolve to continue to support the democratic use of the Mall with a campaign, if necessary, of civil disobedience.
"2. We resolve the Mall should be for the widest possible use for all people and not just for the pursuit of profit.
"3. We demand the repeal of the restrictions on the democratic use of the Mall from the Queen Street Mall Act."
Gordon Fredricks said, "This mall was built by the people for the people. It is Queen Street. Who really owns the Mall?" Another man pointed out, "The difference between this amplification I'm using here and the one they're using down at the rotunda is that this is s entertainment".
The next free speech rally will be held on May 15 in the Queen Street Mall at 7 p.m.