Parliament House floor invaded

Protesters stormed the floor of the Territory’s Parliament yesterday – while it was about to pass legislation intended to protect witnesses.

The 11 protesters – opponents of the NT Government’s anti-drug laws – had been confined in the visitors’ gallery, apparently anticipating the introduction of the new law by Justice Minister Dr Peter Toyne.

But when they heard Sanderson MLA Len Kiely make a passing reference to “drugs” in his speech in support of a Witness Protection Act, they dashed downstairs and into the chamber through an unlocked door off the main hall.

The door had been left unlocked for the family of Daisy Ruddick to hear Parliament offer their condolences following the matriarch’s death last month.

Speaker Loraine Braham briefly suspended the morning session and told her 24 fellow members to leave after the protesters unfurled placards and began chanting slogans on the floor of the chamber.

One protester sat in the empty Speaker’s chair and two or three jumped onto the parliamentary table, while some members left.

Legislative Assembly Clerk Ian McNeill, three or four security guards and a policeman escorted the protesters from Parliament House after first asking them to leave, and confiscating their placards.

The policeman, Superintendent Bert Hofer, had been in the assembly to advise Police Minister Syd Sterling about the witness protection legislation.

The protesters went without resisting their eviction although they initially ignored requests to leave and later complained to the police that they had been assaulted.

Mr McNeill later told reporters that there had been some body contact but described the security guards as “fairly restrained”.

The police are now examining security videotape of the incident as a prelude to charging the protesters and the Speaker has banned them from Parliament House, including its steps, for the remainder of the session.

Mrs Braham, who described the confrontation in the chamber as “angry and ugly” admitted that security had been inadequate.

But every Australian parliament had to find the balance between people having access and ensuring that members and staff were safe, she said.

Mrs Braham pledged, however, that security at Parliament House would be tightened.

“I anticipated that the protesters would want to come in and watch, we allowed them access to the confined gallery and thought it was all in hand,” she said.

But Parliament was protected by a Security Act and the protesters had breached this Act.

Mrs Braham said the invasion had left her angry.

“I believe in the democratic process and the right to protest,” she said. “But I don’t believe people should abuse the parliament. They have taken it a step to (sic) far. We compromised them but they abused that compromise.”

Parliament reconvened briefly to pass the Witness Protection Act.

The bills necessary to the NT Government’s new anti-drug laws will be introduced to Parliament today.

Newshawk: Fiona Clarke
Pubdate: 15 May 2002
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: John Loizou
Copyright: 2002 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/