Southwick upset about Parliament protesters
“There is no place for intimidation and violence by these protestors," says Caulfield MP David Southwick.
Caulfield MP David Southwick is deeply concerned at the way pro-Palestinian protesters who camp at the Victorian State Parliament are being “accommodated”.
He’s written to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Lower House, and the President of the Legislative Council, the Upper House, asking them to act.
He said they have been gathering at the top of the steps, rather than at the lower six steps which is regarded as a public space.
“I have had many people come to me, both from within and outside of the Jewish community, and tell me that the encampment of protestors beneath the portico of the parliamentary building has intimidated them and made them feel unsafe. Several Jewish schools and community organisations have cancelled tours because of this” Southwick wrote.
He cited an email from the Serjeant-at-Arms of the Legislative Assembly, saying that “the actions and intentions of this [pro-Palestine] group and police advice” saw the front doors of the Parliament shut last week, with the potential for the same to occur again today.
“Safe, respectful protest is a fundamental right of all Victorians, but it is not the job of the Parliament to make continual accommodations for protestors who have a callous disregard for the safety parliamentary staff, and the wider Victorian public” Southwick said.
The Caulfeild MP says he’s also concerned about what he’s labelled a violent and threatening incident on Monday involving journalist Avi Yemini and some of the protestors camped at Parliament.
“There is no place for intimidation and violence by these protestors. I have asked on the Parliament of Victoria and Premier to refer the matter to Police and expel those responsible from the parliament precinct” he said.
He also claims he’s been gagged by the Labour government.
He wanted to move a notice of motion in Parliament about anti-Israel demonstrators placing an effigy of a Hamas militant on the steps of Parliament.
But the government refused to grant him leave to move the notice.
Southwick claims by doing this, “Labor made it clear they are willing to tolerate hate and compromise our safety”.
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