$20m public liability insurance to rally in a park: How council red tape hinders the right to protest

A regional New South Wales council has imposed a $20m public liability insurance requirement on a protest organiser, effectively blocking a rally in a park. This move highlights the issue of council red tape hindering the right to protest, as found by researchers from the Australian Democracy Network and Deakin University. The requirement is seen as an unreasonable barrier to free speech and assembly, potentially stifling public gatherings and debate. This development has significant implications for the right to protest in Australia, where councils wield considerable power over public spaces.

Why it matters

Council bureaucracy is limiting public gatherings, affecting the right to protest. This can impact social and political stability, which in turn affects market confidence.

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