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[-] lmdnw@lemmy.world 149 points 1 month ago

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 92 points 1 month ago

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

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[-] Zephorah@discuss.online 129 points 1 month ago

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 71 points 1 month ago

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 6 points 1 month 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 62 points 1 month ago
[-] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 64 points 1 month ago
[-] SarahFromOz@lemmy.world 48 points 1 month ago

Are we ok with this people?

[-] oneser@lemmy.zip 40 points 1 month ago

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 26 points 1 month ago

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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[-] hanrahan@slrpnk.net 6 points 1 month ago

yes, "we" are. How do we know this, look at election results.

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[-] chaotic_ugly@lemmy.zip 43 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

NO ONE

WANTS

TO DIE

FOR ISRAEL

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[-] prex@aussie.zone 29 points 1 month ago

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 15 points 1 month ago

It's also a John Farnham song

[-] rosco385@lemmy.wtf 18 points 1 month ago
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[-] Zagorath@aussie.zone 10 points 1 month ago

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 8 points 1 month ago

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

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[-] Gork@sopuli.xyz 27 points 1 month ago

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

[-] unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de 39 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

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 21 points 1 month 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 21 points 1 month ago

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

[-] joelfromaus@aussie.zone 22 points 1 month 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.

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[-] fizzle@quokk.au 8 points 1 month 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.

[-] SeductiveTortoise@piefed.social 5 points 1 month ago

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

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[-] node2527@lemy.lol 23 points 1 month ago

What a fucking legend.

[-] Akasazh@lemmy.world 19 points 1 month ago

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

[-] stoy@lemmy.zip 15 points 1 month ago

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

[-] galoisghost@aussie.zone 40 points 1 month 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 15 points 1 month ago

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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[-] porcelainpitcher@lemmy.today 14 points 1 month ago

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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[-] SaneMartigan@aussie.zone 12 points 1 month ago

From Canada to Mexico, Iran will be free?

[-] eureka@aussie.zone 18 points 1 month ago

Straight to jail, right away

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[-] OriginEnergySux@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago

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

[-] ArmchairAce1944@discuss.online 7 points 1 month ago

You know, in the UAE, they have freedom of speech enshrined in their laws, too...

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[-] JasSmith@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 month ago
  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 12 points 1 month ago

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

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this post was submitted on 11 Mar 2026
486 points (98.2% liked)

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