Comment on 'It was agony': Grandparents injured in Sydney anti-Herzog protest
SarahFromOz@lemmy.world 4 days ago
Worth highlighting I think:
"The protest also fell within a designated area declared a “major event” under state legislation, which gives police expanded powers to move protesters on and search people for the duration of Herzog’s visit. It extinguished the ability for anybody who alleges they were the victim of any tortious acts by police to sue the state. Lawrence added: “There will be no civil liability, because under the Major Events Act declaration, all civil liability is extinguished.”
zero_gravitas@aussie.zone 4 days ago
Wow, that’s nuts! No wonder the cops were acting as if they could get away with anything!
SarahFromOz@lemmy.world 4 days ago
Because they could.
The parallels to the past are striking! I have just been reading about Joh Belke-Peterson and it is eerie the way the past appears to be repeating:
1971 Springbok Tour & Secret Deals: In response to anti-apartheid protests, Bjelke-Petersen declared a month-long state of emergency, giving police extended powers. Evidence, including revelations in the book Three Crooked Kings, showed Bjelke-Petersen made a secret deal with the police union, promising officers they would not be penalized for any actions taken to suppress demonstrators.