this post was submitted on 11 Mar 2026
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[–] lmdnw@lemmy.world 112 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Just because something is illegal, doesn’t make it wrong and just because something is legal, doesn’t make it right. We need more illegal action against those who oppress legally.

[–] 18107@aussie.zone 65 points 2 months ago (9 children)

Best example: the holocaust was legal, hiding Jews to save their lives was illegal.

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[–] Zephorah@discuss.online 94 points 2 months ago (30 children)

Again, why does any country who is not Israel care at all about this? Does Australia have a military base there?

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[–] mumphert@lemmy.ml 59 points 2 months ago (2 children)

The Coalition were all about free speech when Andrew Bolt published a series of articles explicitly attacking and trying to humiliate named Aboriginal people on the basis of (what he decided was) their race. They tried to weaken the racial discrimination act. Brandis even said Australians have "a right to be bigots" - this was only 12 years ago. The double standard is breathtaking.

[–] Gorgritch_umie_killa@aussie.zone 7 points 2 months ago

I'm gona jump in to defend Brandis a little here and say his views on these things are usually ideologically consistent. I don't know if he's been asked specifically about this case, but his response (if he decided to respond), would likely be worth listening to. Even if disagreeable.

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[–] zakobjoa@lemmy.world 48 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] SarahFromOz@lemmy.world 34 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Are we ok with this people?

[–] oneser@lemmy.zip 31 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Obviously, assuming this is the whole story, no. Are there any planned protests? Is there an open donation box for this person's legal fees open? Is there any other way in which the average person can help?

I'm getting sick of rhetorical questions about tyrannical governments, without any effort made to show people what they realistically can do to help.

[–] zero_gravitas@aussie.zone 17 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Is there an open donation box for this person’s legal fees open?

Just had a look and found this one: https://chuffed.org/project/173177-justice-for-palestine-legal-defence

Are there any planned protests?

Justice for Palestine Magan-Djin (indigenous name for Brisbane) has announced a 'weekend of action' against the laws on the 18th-19th of April: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVvfrhOk20n/

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[–] fizzle@quokk.au 4 points 2 months ago

No.

Sure AF doesn't feel like "hatred".

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[–] chaotic_ugly@lemmy.zip 34 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

NO ONE

WANTS

TO DIE

FOR ISRAEL

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[–] node2527@lemy.lol 18 points 2 months ago

What a fucking legend.

[–] Gork@sopuli.xyz 18 points 2 months ago (6 children)

Does Australia not have freeze peach laws in general? Asking as an ignorant Yank.

[–] unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de 31 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (4 children)

Its a very recent addition that creates some exceptions to australian free speech protections under the guise of combatting anti-semitism. Basically just the Israel lobby getting their personal laws.

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[–] Zagorath@aussie.zone 20 points 2 months ago

Australia's constitution has been interpreted by our High Court to contain an implied right to freedom of political communication. Restrictions on that right may be constitutional if they are (1) for a valid purpose and are (2) narrowly targeted towards that purpose.

The law she was arrested under was only passed by the Queensland state Parliament earlier this week (or late last week? I forget). It is definitely going to face constitutional challenge, and there is a very good chance it is ruled struck down. This is because the law literally outlaws two specific phrases from one side of a political issue, and is likely to be seen as stifling free flow of political discourse, rather than being a more "content-neutral" law.

This article, written by a constitutional scholar, gives some great insight: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/08/the-lnps-phrase-banning-law-is-wide-open-to-constitutional-attack-is-it-a-victory-for-the-people-or-a-smart-political-play

[–] nevetsg@aussie.zone 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

We have a lot of laws and legal interpritation, but it isnt written into our constitution like the US.

[–] joelfromaus@aussie.zone 18 points 2 months ago

Pollies like to say free speech is “implied” when it supports them and point out that it’s not a right when it doesn’t support them.

It’s a funny ol’ system.

[–] SeductiveTortoise@piefed.social 4 points 2 months ago

There are limits to it even in the us for example if you say something slightly offending about the president.

[–] fizzle@quokk.au 4 points 2 months ago

It's complicated.

It's not a constitutional right.

However, there's a lot of case law that supports the rights of citizens to express their thoughts about governments. All levels all processes, with the exception of sedition, treason, national security, et cetera.

We do have strong defamation laws. There was a case a few years ago where a politician was found to have been "defamed" by another politician with respect to comments that were made.

We also have recently strengthened hate speech laws, which is the issue in this specific picture.

Finally spreading information that might compromise national security, and publications showing violence or other offensive content.

In practice, I expect that the situation is similar to what it was in pre-Trump America. However, it's true that in theory the government could pass a law saying you're not allowed to say anything bad about the government.

10 years ago any self respecting American would have pointed out how inferior our system is and that we don't have any rights or freedoms. I feel like that imbalance has shifted however.

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[–] prex@aussie.zone 14 points 2 months ago (10 children)

I got down voted last time for pointing out that "between the river and the sea" was the motto of the town of mosman park

[–] ada@piefed.blahaj.zone 13 points 2 months ago (2 children)

It's also a John Farnham song

[–] rosco385@lemmy.wtf 17 points 2 months ago (1 children)
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[–] Zagorath@aussie.zone 7 points 2 months ago (7 children)

Close. There are two potentially relevant Farnam songs that may have been conflated in this discourse. One is That’s Freedom, which includes the lines "From the mountain to the valley / From the ocean to the alley / From the highway to the river". And the other is Two Strong Hearts, which repeatedly uses the line "Reaching out forever like a river to the sea". Neither quite uses "from the river to the sea", but together they give the same sort of impression.

[–] Echinoderm@aussie.zone 4 points 2 months ago

I didn't expect John Farnham scholarship as part of this topic, but I'm into it.

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[–] Akasazh@lemmy.world 12 points 2 months ago

It's absurd. Like the British guy arrested for wearing a "Plasticine Action" tshirt.

[–] porcelainpitcher@lemmy.today 10 points 2 months ago (2 children)

This is a John Farnham appreciation shirt! "TWO STRONG HEARTS. We stick together from the River to the Sea! Ruuuning free!" See. All good.

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[–] stoy@lemmy.zip 9 points 2 months ago (7 children)

Anyone know how likely it is for her to be given the max sentence?

[–] galoisghost@aussie.zone 31 points 2 months ago

The public prosecutor would need to prove the shirt was used to “menace, harassment or offence”. Even a mediocre defence lawyer should be able to have the charges thrown out.

A good lawyer will take it to the High Court of Australia and get the legislation thrown out.

[–] zero_gravitas@aussie.zone 13 points 2 months ago (2 children)

This protester's charges have been resolved by their acceptance of an 'adult caution', so they won't be facing any more legal proceedings over this incident. More details in my comment here: https://aussie.zone/post/30509630/21880036

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[–] SaneMartigan@aussie.zone 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

From Canada to Mexico, Iran will be free?

[–] eureka@aussie.zone 16 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Straight to jail, right away

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[–] OriginEnergySux@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

What about if I wore a South China Sea shirt? Would I get praised or arrested?

[–] JasSmith@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 months ago (6 children)
  1. Calling for the destruction of a nation - be it Palestine or Israel - is calling for genocide.

  2. It should be legal to call for genocide.

[–] crapwittyname@feddit.uk 10 points 2 months ago (57 children)

1.5 "from the river to the sea" is not a slogan calling for the destruction of Israel.

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[–] shirro@aussie.zone 4 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I am literally traveling from the river (Murray) to the sea tomorrow. Very Aussie and quite legal down south.

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