The Parliament of New South Wales passed the World Youth Day Act 2006 especially for the event. The regulations made under this act however have been the source of some controversy, mainly in the operation of various provisions of the World Youth Day Regulation 2008 within hundreds of so-called declared areas across Sydney. Of the most contentious of the regulations, a maximum fine of A$5,500 was able to be imposed for causing ‘annoyance or inconvenience’ to WYD participants. (from Wiki)
I do agree that this brings up the Freedom of Speech issue in Australia. But then, free speech is different to insulting others. Does free speech mean you are free to insult people? How about verbal harassment? Can’t really use “free speech” to justify that can you? To me, the media attention towards this controversy is an “eye-coverer”, hiding the underlying reasons for issuing this legislation in the first place. If people have respect for one another, there is no need for such a law in the first place. The law is there to re-inforce that we should all respect each other’s religious point of views.
Row over Australia’s Pope protest law
1 July 2008
(from CNN)
Story Highlights
- Australian police get powers against anyone disrupting Pope-related event
- Pope Benedict XVI to take part in Catholic evangelical festival later this month
- Anyone who causes “annoyance or inconvenience to participants” faces fines
- Lawyers, campaigners for free speech denounce the move, call it unnecessary
Australians have been warned: Don’t get caught annoying the crowds when they gather here later this month to see the pope.
Security has been heightened in Sydney for the arrival of the pope at World Youth Day later this month
New regulations give police and emergency services workers the power to order anyone to stop behavior that “causes annoyance or inconvenience to participants in a World Youth Day event,” according to a New South Wales state government gazette. Anyone who does not comply faces a $5,300 fine.
The laws will apply in dozens of areas of downtown Sydney — including the city’s landmark opera house, train stations and city parks — that are designated venues for World Youth Day, a Catholic evangelical festival at which Pope Benedict XVI will conduct mass and lead prayer meetings when he visits.
Violators can face a fine of over $5,000 under the regulations, which critics are calling a heavy-handed blow to free speech.
Nearly 200,000 pilgrims have registered to take part in the July 15-20 World Youth Day festival, and organizers say more are expected before the event starts.
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“The next World Youth Day will be held in Sydney, Australia.” That’s what the pope said 3 years ago in Cologne, Germany.
