Melbourne Freedom Movement Reunites to Rally for Free Speech
Melbourne’s Freedom Movement reunited to protest the newest threats to Free Speech at Flagstaff Gardens on Saturday. Melbourne’s Free Speech Rally Against the Federal Government’s proposed Mis/Disinformation Bill and Victoria’s Anti-Vilification changes was attended by a crowd of approximately 300 people.
The Rally was organized by the Libertarians Victoria, whose branding was on the sausage sizzle fundraiser marquees and the speakers’ stage.
Speakers from the Libertarian Party was Victorian MLC David Limbrick, Victorian Lead Senate candidate for the next federal election Jordan Dittloff and former Victoria Police Officer Krystle Mitchell.
Also speaking was Warren Pickering the Victorian lead One Nation senate candidate, Dr Rueben Kirkham from the Free Speech Union of Australia and detransitioner Mel Jeffries.
At the conclusion of the Sydney Free Speech Rally on Saturday 28 September, a copy of the mis/disinformation bill was burnt. In Melbourne, Jordan Dittloff chainsawed through the bill Javier Meili style.
There was no gatecrashing second rally like there was in Sydney but a woman wearing a Guy Fawkes mask heckled David Limbrick when he started speaking demanding he tell the people the truth about something (from what I could decipher).
Also in attendance was exiled Victorian Liberal MLC Moira Deeming whose defamation case against Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto continues in the federal court. Actor and activist Damien Richardson and Host of the Report from Tiger Mountain, Director of the Melbourne Underground Film Festival Richard Wolstencroft
Other independent media that covered Melbourne’s Free Speech Rally were Avi Yemini for Rebel News and Auditing Australia. Attendance may have been higher but the rally occurred on the same day as CPAC Australia in Brisbane where Melbourne freedom activists Monica Smit, Topher Field and Nick Patterson were speakers.
The rally concluded just before the rain poured down from the dark storm clouds that had gathered in Melbourne, a metaphor for the threat to free speech that looms.
The Allan Labor Government’s proposed changes to Victoria’s Anti-Vilification Laws would expand the protected attributes to race, religious belief or activity, disability, gender identity sex. sex characteristics, sexual orientation A Victorian would face three years in jail if they were found to have incited hatred against, serious contempt for, revulsion towards or severe ridicule of, another person or a group whose attribute is protected. Five years in prison is the maximum penalty if a person is found to have threatened another person or group of a protected attribute.
Public consultation on Victoria’s proposed anti-vilification changes closes on October 11 with consideration of public feedback to be considered in late 2024.
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