Hewson's view: Democracy guarantees right to protest

By John Hewson
Updated July 2 2021 - 1:39am, first published September 19 2019 - 7:00pm
It's on again: Thousands of Australian students gathered for climate change protests in November last year, defying calls by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to stay in school. Picture: shutterstock.com
It's on again: Thousands of Australian students gathered for climate change protests in November last year, defying calls by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to stay in school. Picture: shutterstock.com

The right to protest peacefully is fundamental to our liberal democracy. Our system of government is defined by the tolerance of dissenting minorities, and it is a right protected in our Constitution under the implied freedom of political communication.