Is “free speech” an Australian value? We examine the latest developments concerning two state laws attempting to restrict political expression, and how the people are pushing back.

First, the verdict is in on the protest-restricting laws introduced by the Minns government ahead of the divisive visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog: the changes are unconstitutional. Grata Fund founder Isabelle Reinecke explains what this means for the protesters who were arrested under laws that have now been overturned. 

Next, Queensland’s new hate speech laws criminalising the phrase “from the river to the sea” have been challenged by protesters impersonating… John Farnham. Comedian and Crikey columnist Sami Shah joins the podcast to discuss why banning speech never works. 

Catch up on our previous episode about the NSW protest laws here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TijjR1SJeFs

Read more:

• Chris Minns is a constitutional vandal. He must apologise for NSW protest laws or resign
• A view from the ground: As police argued with MPs, Sydney’s protest against Isaac Herzog descended into chaos
• Try to understand it: John Farnham’s ‘river to the sea’ and Queensland’s war on words by Sami Shah
• Red flags and ‘the six-word phrase’: Queensland protest arrests are part of an Australian history of crushing dissent
• One critical word is missing in Australia’s push to criminalise pro-Palestine phrases
• How Australia became a police state

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