Blunt laws on public space are “stifling” social, political and cultural expression, say the Greens.
The government is hijacking public space by using graffiti and vandalism laws to clamp down on harmless behaviour, Greens spokesperson Caroline Le Couteur said.
Le Couteur cites a recent case in ACT that saw two people arrested for cleaning dirt from public footpaths. “Next the Government will prosecute chalk artists who create sidewalk art in civic,” Le Couteur said.
“Just in the last few months, the government has stopped small businesses from putting displays in Garema place, used strict liability laws to arrest people spraying water on footpaths to create a temporary message, and pushed new anti-bill posting laws that are broad and heavy handed,” she said.
Colour and life in cities needs to be protected and encouraged, she said.
“Public space and free expression are areas where legislators must take great care. That’s why I proposed amendments to the Government’s blunt bill-posting laws, to ensure they don’t catch harmless behaviour and stifle social, political and cultural expression.”
Le Couteur has raised issues about the broadness of the criminal offences in a committee report on the government’s proposed new anti bill-posting laws.
