Police arrests at Fortitude Valley protest mark first test of Queensland hate speech laws
Queensland Police arrested two protesters in the city on March 12 for using the banned phrase “From the river to the sea”. The action represents the first time the state’s new hate speech laws have been enforced in a court of law.
One of those arrested, 33-year-old Liam Parry, is scheduled to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court next month to face charges. An 18-year-old woman received an adult caution for wearing a singlet bearing the same contested slogan.
Arrests and police response
The incident occurred during an unauthorised protest outside the state parliament in Brisbane. According to the ABC, Mr Parry was arrested for using the phrase in a speech to the crowd. The 18-year-old woman was taken into custody later in the city for displaying the slogan on her clothing.
Police stated that their presence at the demonstration was standard procedure to manage road closures and ensure public safety. A police spokesperson told the ABC that it would be inappropriate to comment further while the matter remained before the court.
Pro-Palestinian student group convenor Ella Gutteridge accused police of targeting the rally specifically to make arrests. She told the ABC she had never seen such a heavy riot police presence at a student demonstration before.
“The police were listening closely,” Ms Gutteridge said. “They were ready to make arrests and it was very clear that they came to make arrests.”
Mr Parry’s speech, captured on footage seen by the ABC, included an explanation of the phrase. He argued that the land between the river and the sea is Palestine and that the slogan calls for dignity and freedom for its people.
Conflicting interpretations of the slogan
The state government banned the phrase last week, deeming it antisemitic in circumstances where it could menace or offend. The government also banned the phrase “Globalise the intifada” under the same legislation.
Jason Steinberg, president of the Jewish Board of Deputies, welcomed the police enforcement of the new laws. He told reporters that he disagreed with Mr Parry’s explanation of the slogan’s meaning.
“The Jews will be exterminated. That is what that statement means,” Mr Steinberg said. He added that the phrase had been used to intimidate Jewish people in workplaces and on the streets.
Police Minister Dan Purdie clarified the government’s position during a press conference in Bundaberg. He stated that the legislation aims to stamp out hate but noted that defences exist for the use of the phrase.
“There are a long list of defences,” Minister Purdie said. “You have to be using it as a term that is driving hate and calling for hate. So if it is part of education … or other defences that are in the law, those apply.”
Historical context: The shadow of Joh Bjelke-Petersen
The arrests have drawn comparisons to the era of former Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who ruled Queensland from 1968 to 1987. A new documentary, Joh: Last King of Queensland, recently revisited his controversial legacy of suppressing dissent.
According to the ABC, director Kriv Stenders described the film as a cautionary tale about how an oppressive regime can rise and fall. Stenders noted that his own childhood was lived under the shadow of Bjelke-Petersen’s conservative values.
Bjelke-Petersen wielded a corrupt police force to crush opposition. In 1971, he declared a state of emergency to stop anti-apartheid protests during the South African Springboks’ rugby tour. Police were unleashed on demonstrators, resulting in bashed heads and broken bones.
By 1977, the Bjelke-Petersen government amended the Traffic Act to effectively ban street protests without a rare permit. These permits were controlled by then-police commissioner Terry Lewis, who was later jailed for corruption.
“Protest marches are a thing of the past,” Bjelke-Petersen declared at the time. The new hate speech laws have reignited debates about whether Queensland is returning to a period of heavy-handed policing of civil liberties.
Impact on local residents and the legal landscape
The arrests have created immediate uncertainty for residents in inner-city suburbs like Fortitude Valley and the CBD. Citizens must now navigate complex legal definitions regarding what constitutes hate speech versus education or public interest.
The upcoming court case involving Mr Parry will set a significant legal precedent. It will be the first time a judge interprets the new defences within the hate speech legislation. The outcome will determine if phrases used for political education are protected or criminalised.
Local business owners and community groups are watching the situation closely. The heavy police presence reported by Ms Gutteridge suggests that future demonstrations in the city may face similar scrutiny. This could alter the nature of public assembly in Brisbane’s inner-city precincts.
For the Jewish community, the enforcement of the law provides a sense of security. Mr Steinberg’s comments indicate that many residents feel the previous lack of legal protection left them vulnerable to intimidation in their daily lives.
Conversely, student groups and free speech advocates argue that the police response was disproportionate. They fear the laws could chill legitimate political discourse in the city, a concern that echoes the fears of activists during the Bjelke-Petersen era.
What happens next
Mr Parry is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court next month. This hearing is expected to be the first judicial test of Queensland’s new hate speech laws. The court will need to decide if the “education” defence applies to his speech.
The 18-year-old woman who received an adult caution will not face court proceedings. Her case has been concluded through the cautioning process, which does not result in a criminal conviction.
Residents and community groups should monitor the court date closely. The legal outcome will provide clarity on the boundaries of free speech and the specific application of the new hate speech ban in Queensland.
