In New South Wales, the ALP State Government has just engaged in an unprecedented attack on human rights, civil liberties and free speech. Why? Is it an international terrorist threat against a sensitive international target? Well, no. It’s July’s Catholic World Youth Day, due to be held in Sydney soon.

Sometimes, I wonder if LGBT New Zealanders don’t have an overly romanticised view of our continental neighbour. True, Mardi Gras is a fabulous party, and Melbourne’s DNA is a highly informative and readable magazine. However, in terms of actual legislative progress, Tasmania, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory all have inclusive adoption reform, while Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory have registered partnerships…and the Rudd administration is intent on maintaining the Howard administration’s federal ban on same-sex marriage. 

While its federal anti-euthanasia ban is under attack, it doesn’t look like there’s any similar action planned against that extremist piece of legislation, which is further than even the United States has gone. Couple that to the raid on Bill Hensen’s Roslyn Oxley9 gallery exhibition in Sydney, and one wonders whether John Howard’s decade in power has severely damaged Australia’s formerly expansive belief in human rights, civil liberties and other democratic institutions.

Under the NSW Government’s repressive legislation, it will be illegal to “cause annoyance” to World Youth Day participants, through even such minor instances as wearing t-shirts that challenge Catholic dogma and orthodoxy, handing out condoms at rallies, or conducting the sort of cheeky subversive response that the ABC’s Chaser boys are infamous for, similar to that at APEC. If one doesn’t comply, then there’s risk from a $A 5500 fine.

The NSW Bar Association, NSW Civil Liberties Association and NSW Green State MP Lee Rhiannon have all criticised this draconian measure, which applies to museums, galleries, cinemas, Darling Harbour, the Sydney Opera House and Randwick Racecourse (site of a Papal Mass), while 500 Sydney state schools and 35 rail and train stations will face baggage searches and even possible strip searches. Rhiannon observed that if someone flashed at a WYD participant, they’d only attract a $A 1100 fine.

I’m getting rather tired of the Vatican, and conservative Catholics, belief that the assertion of their particular sectarian religious dogma should take precedence over everything else, including deeply cherished and core attributes of democratic societies like free speech, faith/state seperation and meaningful religious and philosophical freedoms. One hopes this atrocious legislation is declared ultra vires and struck down by a court of higher jurisdiction, even if it is only in effect during this month.

Recommended:

Jono and Joel Gibson and Linda Morris: “Thou Shalt Not Annoy on Youth Day” Sydney Morning Herald: 01.07.08: http://www.smh.com.au

“Strip Searches Okayed for World Youth Day”: AAP: 01.07.08: http://www.news.com.au