OUTinPERTH

Read the News

Subscribe

Follow us

OUTinPERTH

Read the News

Subscribe

Follow us

Premium Content:

Emergency laws allow for fines of up to $12,600 for vilification

Emergency laws to stop people being vilified during the debate surrounding the government’s postal survey on marriage will be introduced to parliament this week.

- Advertisement -

The laws will see civil prosecutions with fines of up to $12,600 for people who feel vilified or threatened during the campaign.

The emergency laws will only apply up until the end of the campaign in December and any prosecutions that proceed will first need to be approved by Attorney General George Brandis.

Courts will not be able to oppose fines or jail time on people who break the law, only civil penalties will apply.

“It will be unlawful to vilify, intimidate or threaten to harm a person either because of views they hold on the survey or in relation to their religious conviction, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status,” a government spokesman said.

“That will be a sunset provision, it will only last for the period of the postal plebiscite.”

The new laws are expected to be rushed through both houses of parliament on Thursday.

OIP Staff


Support OUTinPerth

Thanks for reading OUTinPerth. We can only create LGBTIQA+ focused media with your help.

If you can help support our work, please consider assisting us through a one-off contribution to our GoFundMe campaign, or a regular contribution through our Patreon appeal.

Become a Supporter→     Make a contribution→ 

Latest

Lady Gaga leaves Perth off her tour schedule

Perth fans are disappointed that they've been left out.

Tony Armstrong and Courtney Act will host Eurovision 2025

The new hosting duo will be heading to Basel in Switzerland.

Broadway composer William Finn dies aged 73

Finn is remembered for the musicals 'Falsettos', 'A New Brain' and 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'.

Elton John and Madonna end their decades long feud and hint at future collaboration

The pair met up on the set of 'Saturday Night Live' where John was performing.

Newsletter

Don't miss

Lady Gaga leaves Perth off her tour schedule

Perth fans are disappointed that they've been left out.

Tony Armstrong and Courtney Act will host Eurovision 2025

The new hosting duo will be heading to Basel in Switzerland.

Broadway composer William Finn dies aged 73

Finn is remembered for the musicals 'Falsettos', 'A New Brain' and 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'.

Elton John and Madonna end their decades long feud and hint at future collaboration

The pair met up on the set of 'Saturday Night Live' where John was performing.

Greens candidate Avery Howard faces waves of homophobic abuse

Avery Howard is running for the Sydney seat of Fowler.

Lady Gaga leaves Perth off her tour schedule

Perth fans are disappointed that they've been left out.

Tony Armstrong and Courtney Act will host Eurovision 2025

The new hosting duo will be heading to Basel in Switzerland.

Broadway composer William Finn dies aged 73

Finn is remembered for the musicals 'Falsettos', 'A New Brain' and 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'.