[Greens-Media] (Sylvia Hale MLC) Police Back Down on Greens Climate-Saver Event In APEC Security Zone

[Christopher Holley]

Police Back Down on Greens Climate-Saver Event In APEC Security Zone

NSW Police have backed away from their threat to take court action to
stop the Greens conducting a media event in Martin Place, within the
APEC Security Zone, on Friday. 

Greens MP, Sylvia Hale, who will be hosting the event, told the Police
that she would not change the location of the event despite receiving a
letter from Police General Counsel Michael Antrum on Monday threatening
to launch Supreme Court action against the MP. 

Mr Antrum confirmed in a letter to Ms Hale this morning that the Police
have now changed their mind and dropped their opposition to the event.

“I welcome this backdown by the Police. It was always my view that
the Police were trying to act beyond their powers in an attempt to
intimidate me into moving the event out of Martin Place,” said Ms
Hale.

The event is to be a media conference with a group of Greens members
dressed to resemble lifesavers as a colourful backdrop. The media will
be addressed by Senator Kerry Nettle who will be calling on APEC leaders
to be “climate-savers” by taking urgent action to address climate
change, which threatens the future of millions of people throughout the
Asia-Pacific region.

“Like any citizen I find it disturbing to have formal written threats
made against me by the NSW Police to the effect that they intend to
commence immediate, and potentially costly, proceedings against me in
the Supreme Court,” Ms Hale said.

“The issue that we are addressing in the media conference, the urgent
need to take serious action about climate change, is a matter of great
concern to many Australians.”

“I confirmed with Police that Martin Place is to remain open to the
public before I submitted my notice of intention. If it is open to the
public it should be open for a media conference and some street
theatre.”

“I believe that the Police were trying to act beyond the powers they
were given by the parliament in trying to ban political activity in
Martin Place. It is important to maintain the right to express a
political opinion in a public place,” said Ms Hale.

“To quote Commissioner Scipione from yesterday “this is a victory
for common sense.”” 


Further information: Chris Holley 02 9230 3030 / 0437779546