The legislation’s opponents will argue that it is over-inclusive and disproportionately limits free speech History tells us that anti-protest laws rushed through parliament often have an unhappy ending in the courts. In 2022 laws were whipped through the New South Wales parliament in response to a series of climate protests to prevent protesters disrupting infrastructure and major facilities. They were challenged by the “knitting nanas”, who succeeded in having part of the law struck down for impermissibly burdening the implied freedom of political communication. Then we had the Dural caravan episode, which led to more laws being urgently passed – this time to restrict protests outside places of worship. Again, part of the legislation was struck down. It had allowed police to issue “move-on” orders to people who were protesting near a place of worship, even though they were not obstructing, harassing or intimidating any people who were entering or leaving the place of worship. But the NSW supreme court held that this went beyond what was necessary to achieve its legitimate purpose of protecting worshippers. There were more narrowly focused equally effective alternatives which could have been adopted and would have had less of a burden on political communication. Continue reading...

The private insurers are reportedly seeking a 5-6% premium rise next year. That’s rich – especially when you consider 65% of policies don’t cover everything Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Right now final submissions are being made by private health insurers to the government for an increase in insurance premiums next year. In light of reports they are seeking increases above 5%, it is worth remembering that private health insurance is a terrible way to deliver good health outcomes. You can’t say public policy is always worse in America, but aside from how they conduct elections, the one policy the US does worse than anywhere else is healthcare. Continue reading...

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Did rats chew the wiring on it like they did my ute? Sign up here to get an email whenever First Dog cartoons are published Get all your needs met at the First Dog shop if what you need is First Dog merchandise and prints Continue reading...

Three-decade campaign by the Gweagal community of La Perouse sees repatriation of four spears to Kamay Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast Four spears stolen from Kamay, now known as Botany Bay in Sydney, by Captain James Cook and his crew have been returned to their traditional owners after more than 250 years. Forty Kamay spears were recorded as being taken by the British in 1770, at the time of first contact between the local Gweagal people and the crew of the Endeavour. The four spears returned on Tuesday are the only ones of the original 40 that remain. Continue reading...