Nationals senator Matt Canavan has cautioned against jailing people for displaying Hezbollah symbols at pro-Palestine protests on Sunday, a sharp contrast to Coalition leader Peter Dutton saying he thought it was “completely unacceptable that the government wouldn’t be arresting people already”.
Appearing on the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing program shortly before 5pm, Canavan was asked what he thought should happen if someone showed public support or sympathy for Hezbollah at yesterday’s rallies.
Senator Matthew Canavan. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
In response, he said:
Well, look, I’m happy for the police to look at this and see whether any laws are broken. But, look, I’m a little bit reticent to start jailing people – arresting people – for just displaying a sign.
Obviously there’s certainly symbols – like swastikas – that we ban, but where do you end here?
I do support people expressing their views as long as it’s peacefully. And really, the test about whether you defend the right of someone’s free speech is to defend those rights of the people you disagree with, right? I certainly don’t agree with these protesters. I especially don’t agree with any kind of elevation of a listed terrorist organisation.
But what would clamping down actually signify or deliver? I think it would make the situation worse. The best thing is to ostracise these people, to isolate them as extremists and radicals.
And especically for members of parliament, not to associate with them. We see the Greens political party run shoulder-to-shoulder sometimes with these extreme groups. They should condemn them and set them apart from the broad brush of Australian society that find these views objectionable.
Appearing on the same program, Labor MP Josh Wilson echoed Canavan’s comments.
“It’s reasonable to have laws in place that really seek to clamp down on the most divisive kinds of behaviour – behaviour that effectively becomes an incitement to violence. I think that there is an extreme version of that kind of behaviour that you do want law enforcement to be able to look at,” Wilson said.
Member for Fremantle Josh Wilson in February.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“But, fundamentally, I’m on the same page as Matt. We are a democratic society where people ought to be able to express their views, even some views that we don’t necessarily agree with.
“But my position, in having enormous respect for those who are part of the cause of peace and non-violence, is if you’re activist in that cause, your conduct should be in accordance with those values.”
In radio interview this morning, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton argued those who attended rallies on the weekend and supported Hezbollah should face criminal charges or deportation. In response to the protests, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has said he would “consider refusing and cancelling visas for anyone who seeks to incite discord in Australia”.
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