Our thanks to MP’s James Merlino, Richard Wynne and Jane Garret who mentioned the Tecoma McDonald’s protest as a stand-out grassroots campaign in state parliament today. The Summary Offences Act is being debated and if passed it has the potential to shut down peaceful non-violent protests and put another nail in the coffin of democracy.
A post from James Merlino’s Face Book Page:
“Spoke in parliament today against the “move on” bill which criminalises all peaceful protest. This bill will silence the democratic rights of the community of the Dandenong Ranges voicing their opposition to McDonald’s in Tecoma. The Treasurer let the cat out of the bag. He said the Tecoma protest should be moved on. Extraordinary.
I challenged the next Liberal candidate for Monbulk to match Labor’s commitment to repeal this grossly anti-democratic legislation. Joh Bjelke-Petersen would be proud of the Napthine Govt.”
James Merlino
(State Member for Monbulk, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Education.)
