Peter Garrett MP
Member for Kingsford Smith
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Reconciliation and the Arts

In response to a question asked by Laurie Oakes on today’s Sunday program in regard to a legal opinion I had obtained on restrictions on freedom of expression under the proposed new terrorism laws the Prime Minister said “… there is no way that these sedition laws in any way will curtail legitimate free speech”

(Last night I referred in a speech to legal opinion I sought on the likely impact the proposed Anti Terrorism Bill would have on the free expression of opinion, especially in relation to creative and artistic expression.

The opinion by Peter Gray SC [click on link below to access document] states that “Australians involved in the artistic and creative fields are particularly vulnerable to the risk of prosecution under the regime to be introduced by this Bill”.)

Given the weight of legal opinion now criticising various aspects of the Government’s proposed terror laws, and the lack of clarity of its effect and coverage, it is even more important that consideration of the Bill be extended and include comprehensive debate and scrutiny by the Parliament.

The Prime Minister has to answer the specific questions; do the provisions create a new class of seditious offence including expressions of opinion or even fact, in films, songs, magazine articles and the like?

And will such expression render people open to investigation and prosecution.

Contact: Kate Pasterfield