Protesters launch high court challenge to Queensland ban on ‘from the river to the sea’

1:18 The moment pro-Palestine protester and high court applicant Stephen Heydt was arrested – video Protesters launch high court challenge to Queensland ban on ‘from the river to the sea’ Exclusive: Lawsuit filed on behalf of seven protesters alleges ban amounts to ‘a direct, content-based restriction’ on speech, effectively targeting pro-Palestine movement Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A group of pro-Palestine protesters have launched a high court challenge to a Queensland law banning the slogan “from the river to the sea”, arguing that it amounts to a discriminatory and unconstitutional infringement on free speech. The controversial laws, which also ban the expression “globalise the intifada”, were passed by the state’s Liberal National party government in response to December’s Bondi terrorist attack. The laws make reciting, distributing, publishing or displaying either expression an offence punishable by up to two years’ jail, if doing so might reasonably be expected to cause a member of the public to feel menaced, harassed or offended, though there is no requirement that that person exist. More than 30 people have been arrested and charged under the laws since they took effect in March . The lawsuit, filed on behalf of seven protesters, alleges the ban amounts to “a direct, content-based restriction” on speech that effectively targets the pro-Palestine movement. “The operative purpose of [the law] … is to prevent public recitation, public distribution, publication and public display of the prohibited expressions because of their content alone,” the group allege in documents filed to the court last week. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email According to the pleading, the law imposes a burden on the implied freedom of political communication in the constitution, without a legitimate purpose. It also allegedly creates inequality or discrimination by outlawing the expression of perspectives in a political discourse. “A person may be restricted in how they express their political views due to the fear and risk of being arrested, convicted and/or imprisoned,” the group alleges. The Queensland government has been contacted for comment. Government claimed phrases are antisemitic The Queensland premier has previously justified banning the slogans by saying the phrases are antisemitic. “We just don’t want them [protesters] to use the two phrases that have been singled out as the hatred that allowed what came on to the shores of Bondi,” David Crisafulli said in June. “That’s all that’s being asked, their right to protest, their right to stand up against the regime, their right to call out freedom for individuals, of course, they should have that right”. skip past newsletter promotion after newsletter promotion Jewish man among first charged in pro-Palestinian slogan crackdown that reminds some of 1970s Queensland Read more The challenge to the laws has been f