The Tasmanian Government has introduced laws in an effort to try and stop Australians practising their democratic right to protest, according to a report in The Guardian.
The laws are specifically aimed at environmental protesters and allow for on-the-spot fines and three-month mandatory jail sentences for those deemed as 'repeat offenders'.
The report states: "Two healthcare workers protesting against the clearfelling of native forest in Tasmania have become the first people charged under the state’s controversial anti-protest laws.
"John Henshaw, 66, and Jessica Hoyt, 35, were in a group of nine protesters who walked on to a Forestry Tasmania land at Lapoinya, 37km from Burnie in north-west Tasmania, on Monday.
"Earlier this month, Forestry Tasmania bulldozers moved into the area, which is home to the endangered Tasmanian giant freshwater lobster and according to locals has a population of disease-free Tasmanian devils. The land is part of a longstanding forestry coup and has been selectively logged before but the current harvesting plan is to clearfell 49 hectares."
"Henshaw, a retired anaesthetist, was arrested and charged on Monday with an offence under the Workplaces (Protection from Protesters) Act 2014, because he allegedly failed to comply with a direction from police to leave the site. He faces a fine of up to $10,000.
Five other people left when asked by police and three more, including Hoyt, were escorted from the site by police and given an infringement notice, which meant they would be arrested if they staged another protest on an active forestry coup, or any other area considered to be a workplace, within three months.
Hoyt was arrested when she returned to a different area of the forestry coup on Tuesday."
Australians should have the right to peacefully protest without being fined or jailed! Will you join me in urging the Government of Tasmania to repeals its anti-democratic, anti-protest laws and given citizens the freedom to defend Australia's natural heritage?
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