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WA govt defends anti-protest laws

The WA government has dismissed criticism of controversial anti-protest laws, saying it will not inhibit people's right to demonstrate.

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Source: AAP


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WA Deputy Premier Liza Harvey has defended proposed anti-protest laws that have drawn criticism from the opposition, activists, legal experts and United Nations representatives.

Ms Harvey, who is also the police minister, says the proposed legislation, which will allow for the arrest of protesters locking themselves to trees or machinery to prevent lawful activity, will not prevent people from protesting.

"This does not strip people in any way, shape or form of their right to protest ... it says that if you take that to the extreme end and you want to lock yourself onto a device that requires a tremendous effort and blocks access to a site, well there's going to be consequences," Ms Harvey told ABC radio on Wednesday.

United Nations experts on Tuesday urged the WA government to reconsider the legislation, which they said would contravene international human rights law.

Greens MP Lynn MacLaren said she was concerned Ms Harvey and Attorney General Michael Mischin continued to ignore local and international pleas for the proposed legislation to be reconsidered.

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"When you put it up for scrutiny amongst lawyers, this law goes way too far, it's too broadly drafted and it really will serve to limit our ability to speak out about the dissent that we feel when the government is wrong," she told ABC radio.

"It's a very serious offence if they pass this legislation and it inhibits our ability to do the right thing."

Opposition leader Mark McGowan also opposes the idea and says if anti-protest laws are passed, Labor will repeal them if they win next year's election.

"These extreme laws could be used against farmers, church members, conservationists, local community groups, workers or anyone involved in a peaceful protest," he said.


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