Volunteers refuse to use new nuisance laws
Jano Gibson & Joel Gibson; 4/7/08
Two volunteer groups that the NSW Government wanted to police “annoying and inconvenient” conduct at World Youth Day events have refused the extraordinary new powers, which could be subject to a legal challenge from lawyers and civil libertarians. The laws empower the police, Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service personnel to stop people causing an annoyance or inconvenience to World Youth Day participants, with fines of up to $5500 if they persist, and to order people to remove items of clothing for searches.
Anti-WYD activists should try their luck in Mecca
This letter is to confirm the statement by NSW ministerial spokeswoman for World Youth Day Kristina Keneally that neither myself nor any member of the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day leadership requested regulations to prevent protests. I repeat what I said in a pre-recorded TV interview on June 24 that I endorse the right to peaceful protest. I understand the same NSW government regulations are used in all major international events, and were for the Sydney Olympics, and are listed in 15 Regulations, By-Laws or Acts going back to 1987. Cardinal George Pell; Archbishop of Sydney
See: http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/letters/index.php/theaustralian/ comments/anti_wyd_activists_should_try_their_luck_in_mecca/
Red rags to Youth Day’s slogan squad
Charles Purcell; 4/7/08
After the kerfuffle over T-shirts that could cause offence during World Youth Day attracting fines, here is a further list of T-shirt slogans that may come under scrutiny during the event.
See: http://www.smh.com.au/news/heckler/red-rags-to-youth-days-slogan-squad/2008/07/03/1214950947574.html
Tags: Australia, Christianity