Today District Court Judge Timothy Gartelmann has released climate protestor Deanna "Violet" Coco on bail pending an appeal to a 15 month jail sentence which is listed for hearing next year. In light of this, and a number of other cases currently before the courts, The Greens NSW will move to enshrine a right to protest without imprisonment as a key priority of the next Parliament of NSW.
NSW Greens MP and spokesperson for justice, Sue Higginson, said: "Today the Court got it right, Violet should never have been sent to prison, especially while she waits for her sentence appeal. No protester who engages in non-violent direct action, no matter how inconvenient it may be, should ever be sent to prison.
"Violet, all of the other peaceful activists awaiting court hearings, and our democracy need protection from this kind of draconian punishment for exercising essential rights of protest. As soon as the new State Parliament is formed the Greens will move to enshrine a non-violent direct action defence into our sentencing laws. I will work to remove imprisonment as a sentencing option for people who play by the rules of non-violent direct action.
"As a lawyer, I have represented hundreds of protestors who have engaged in acts of civil disobedience across Australia. I have represented people who have locked on to bulldozers in forests, stopped coal and gas mine operations and obstructed trains, traffic and ports. Every person I have ever represented has been a good person who cares about the environment, nature and our collective future.
"Whether you agree with the tactics and methods employed by the people raising the alarm about climate change, they have been playing by the long established rules of non-violent direct action which are woven deeply in the fabric of Australian history.
"Without non-violent direct action the Rocks would have been demolished, equal rights under law would not exist for women, First nations people would be worse off, minimum pay and conditions would have never become a reality and large chunks of the natural environment in our State would have been destroyed.
"It was deeply worrying to hear the Premier say that it was "pleasing" that Violet had been sent to prison and the leader of the opposition say he had no regrets helping the Government to pass these laws. This is the mark of a system that is quickly going in the wrong direction.
"In the new Parliament next year, I will work around the clock to enshrine a non-violent direct action defence into our sentencing laws. I will work to remove imprisonment as a sentencing option for people who play by the rules of non-violent direct action," Ms Higginson said.
