Queensland’s new hate speech laws arrest protesters over banned pro-Palestinian slogans
Consensus Summary
Queensland’s new hate speech laws, which criminalize the phrases 'from the river to the sea' and 'globalise the intifada' when used to menace or offend, led to the first arrests on April 3. A 33-year-old man named Liam Parry was arrested at Speakers Corner for verbally reciting the banned phrase during a pro-Palestinian protest outside state parliament, while an 18-year-old woman was later arrested at King George Square for wearing a shirt with the phrase and received an adult caution. The protest was part of a nationwide student strike for Palestine, with a large police presence described as disproportionate by activists. The laws, added to the bill during last-minute parliamentary discussions, sparked criticism from opposition parties and pro-Palestinian groups, who argue they suppress free speech and target peaceful protests. The man’s case will be tested in court on April 8, while activists plan legal challenges to the laws, comparing their implementation to the authoritarian tactics of the Joh Bjelke-Petersen government. Jewish advocacy groups have also opposed the laws, stating they do not effectively address antisemitism and may unfairly target Arabic political expression.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Queensland’s new hate speech laws, passed on March 5, ban the phrases 'from the river to the sea' and 'globalise the intifada' when used to menace, harass, or offend, with penalties of up to two years in prison
- Two people—a 33-year-old man (Liam Parry) and an 18-year-old woman—were arrested on April 3 for using the banned phrases at a pro-Palestinian protest in Brisbane
- The man was arrested at Speakers Corner around 12:30 PM for verbally reciting 'from the river to the sea' and issued a Notice to Appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on April 8
- The woman was arrested later at King George Square for wearing a shirt with the banned phrase and received an adult caution
- The protest was part of a nationwide student strike for Palestine outside Queensland Parliament on April 3
- The laws were added to the bill during last-minute discussions in parliament, with Labor initially supporting the bill before withdrawing support due to the inclusion of the two phrases
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Greens MP Michael Berkman called the arrests 'all the hallmarks of an authoritarian police state' and compared them to the Joh Bjelke-Petersen era anti-protest regime
- Labor shadow minister Shannon Fentiman stated the government 'wants to tell Queenslanders what they can and cannot say' and likened the laws to Bjelke-Petersen’s days
- Students For Palestine Queensland convener Ella Gutteridge said the laws' 'real intent is to intimidate and silence peace activists'
- The Guardian mentioned police presence was 'standard at any protest to manage road closures' but noted the arrests were 'inappropriate to comment further' due to court proceedings
- ABC reported Liam Parry explained the phrase's meaning at the protest, stating it referred to 'the land in between these two bodies of water is the land of Palestine' and called for 'freedom and liberation'
- ABC noted Ella Gutteridge said police presence was 'massively disproportionate' and accused police of 'overreach' to target the rally
- ABC included footage details: the man was arrested at Speakers Corner at 12:30 PM, and the woman was arrested later at King George Square
- ABC reported Connor Knight said the group planned to challenge the laws and called the arrests 'outrageous'
- ABC mentioned the Jewish Council of Australia had previously opposed similar laws in NSW, stating banning slogans would not make Jewish people safer
- Newscou reported the phrases were added to the legislation during 'last-minute discussions' before parliament began its sitting week
- Newscou included a quote from the Jewish Council of Australia submission to NSW parliament, stating the terms 'reproduce anti-Arab and Islamophobic assumptions'
- Newscou noted the Jewish Council of Australia argued the term 'intifada' has multiple meanings and is not inherently violent
- SBS headline only repeated the core event without additional specific details
- ABC (Article 5) repeated the claim that Ella Gutteridge believed police were present 'with the express purpose of using these laws to make arrests'
- ABC (Article 5) included a quote from Liam Parry explaining the phrase's educational context during his speech
- Guardian (Article 6) included a witness description of the woman wearing a shirt with the banned phrase at King George Square
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian (Article 1) states the laws went into effect 'yesterday' (April 3), but Article 2 (ABC) and Article 3 (Newscou) clarify the laws were passed on March 5 and went into effect on April 3
- Article 1 (Guardian) mentions the woman was given an 'adult caution' but does not specify the time of arrest, while Article 2 (ABC) and Article 5 (ABC) state she was arrested later at King George Square
- Article 1 (Guardian) states the woman was 'given an adult caution' without further action, but Article 6 (Guardian) does not mention the caution and focuses on the shirt detail
- Article 3 (Newscou) states the phrases were added to the legislation during 'last-minute discussions before parliament began its sitting week,' while Article 1 (Guardian) does not specify the timing of the addition
- Article 5 (ABC) claims Ella Gutteridge said police were present 'with the express purpose of using these laws to make arrests,' but no other source explicitly confirms this exact phrasing or intent
Source Articles
Queensland’s ‘from the river to the sea’ laws likened to Bjelke-Petersen era anti-protest regime
Greens MP says arrests under new pro-Palestine slogan bans bear hallmarks of ‘authoritarian police state’ as deputy premier says ‘the law’s the law’ Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Police arresting pro-Palestinian protesters for using the phrase “from the river to the sea” had “all the hallmarks of an authoritarian police state”, according to a Greens MP, amid widespread backlash against Queensland’s new hate speech laws. The laws went into effect yesterday after pas
Two people arrested less than a week after hate speech laws pass parliament
Police said a man has been charged and a woman is assisting with inquiries over the use of phrases deemed antisemitic by the Queensland government.
Six words that got protesters into trouble
Two people have been arrested at a protest under recently introduced laws targeting slogans used frequently by pro-Palestinian activists.
Queensland makes first arrests for use of banned pro-Palestinian phrase
The Queensland government is under fire from activists who consider the hate speech laws to be "hallmarks of an authoritarian police state".
Police accused of 'overreach' after 'from the river to the sea' arrest
The pro-Palestinian group that organised the Brisbane protest says police were "everywhere" and "ready to make arrests" over use of the banned phrase.
Two protesters arrested on first day of Queensland’s ‘from the river to the sea’ ban
Arrests occurred after pro-Palestinian activists gathered outside state parliament within hours of new laws taking effect Two pro-Palestinian protesters have been arrested for violating contentious new Queensland hate-speech laws, with one of them allegedly saying the banned phrase “from the river to the sea”. The arrests occurred outside the state parliament building on Wednesday, where a small protest march had taken place, just hours after the new laws, passed by parliament last week, went in
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