Fighting for Justice Against Anti-Protest Laws: Welcome to March’s edition of Fighting for Justice! And a big hello to all our new subscribers! Last month, we saw the biggest growth in our newsletter, so thank you to everyone who passed this email along to a friend!
March has been a month of action and advocacy! As we celebrated International Women’s Day, our team honoured the ongoing fight for equality. We also took a moment to mark St. Patrick’s Day, hope everyone who celebrated had a fantastic day! With some of our senior team boasting Irish roots, let’s just say there may have been a toast or two raised in good spirit!
Most importantly, this month, we took a bold stand against the NSW Government’s latest attempt to stifle public protest. On behalf of our client, Joshua Lees, an activist with the Palestine Action Group (PAG), we have launched a constitutional challenge against the Crimes Amendment (Places of Worship) Bill 2025 to protect the fundamental right to protest.
Keep reading for more!
Defending the Right to Protest: We Challenge NSW Controversial Anti-Protest Laws
Our team took a stand in the Supreme Court to challenge anti-protest laws that could silence activists and restrict democratic freedoms. The new law, which was rushed through by the Minns Government in February, grants police new powers to move on protesters gathered near places of worship.
We believe that this measure is not just heavy-handed, it’s an unjustified intrusion on the implied constitutional freedom of political communication. Now, with this critical case before the Supreme Court, we’re fighting to ensure that political dissent is not criminalised. The right to protest is a cornerstone of democracy, and we won’t stand by while it is stripped away.
Our client, Joshua Lees, is an activist with the Palestine Action Group (PAG) (follow them on Instagram @palestineactiongroup). He is one of many who have been targeted under these heavy-handed laws.
Alongside other protesters, Lees is facing unjust penalties simply for standing up for his beliefs. These laws disproportionately impact all protesters, including environmentalists, human rights activists, and community advocates, undermining the democratic values that Australia prides itself on.
Our Principal Solicitor, Peter O’Brien and top Criminal Solicitor Sidnie Sarang, are leading the charge in defending Lees and other activists. These laws, introduced under the guise of ‘public safety,’ are in reality an attempt to criminalise peaceful dissent and suppress public outcry against government policies.
What’s happening right now?
Currently, we are asking for an expedited hearing to argue this case, and the sooner the better this takes place as these new laws are said to take effect from 2 June 2025. Sidnie, Peter, and Senior Counsel are also preparing affidavits from supporting witnesses, activists, and prominent community leaders who want to stand with Josh. These key people will share their perspectives on how these dystopian laws threaten their right to protest and the broader impact on democratic freedoms.
Keep an eye on our socials for updates on this landmark legal battle.
Peter O’Brien Shares his Thoughts on the Case
The Supreme Court of NSW has been asked to declare the new law invalid, as it places an excessive burden on the fundamental right to peaceful protest. Principal Solicitor Peter O’Brien highlighted the broader implications of this legislation:
“Religious institutions quite often have links to power – and so they are quite often legitimately the target of protest.
Who commonly protests outside churches and other places of worship? The marginalised, victims of abuse, those whose voices have been silenced,
and whose injustices can take generations to be properly acknowledged.
Peaceful protest in public occupies a precious status in our society. Iconic protest sites in Sydney at Town Hall and Hyde Park are right next to places of worship.
An effective ban on protests outside all religious institutions or facilities used for those purposes is absolutely unprecedented. It is extreme. This legal action is about protecting the rights of individuals against disproportionate state power.”
Read more about the case HERE.
Media Spotlight on Anti-Protest Laws
Our client’s case has garnered national attention, with The Guardian and The Sydney Morning Herald reporting on our legal fight:
- The Guardian covered our client’s case, highlighting the serious threat these laws pose to freedom of expression. Read more: The Guardian Article.
- The Sydney Morning Herald echoed these concerns, exposing the deceptive basis of these laws and their dangerous implications. Read more: Sydney Morning Herald Article.
ANSWER: St Patrick was born in Britain, in an area that is now known as Scotland.
