‘Parliament Invaders’ set precedent

Judge orders free transcripts for defendants

Northern Territory (NT) Supreme Court Judge David Angel created legal precedent today when he ordered that four unrepresented appellants be supplied free of charge with electronic copies of the transcript of their hearing in the Magistrate’s Court.

Network Against Prohibition (NAP) spokesperson Gary Meyerhoff said “The transcript would normally cost $1300. A prohibitive cost that discriminates against people on low incomes.”

The Appeal against conviction for four people who invaded the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in May 2002 was adjourned at the request of the appellants. They argued that without the transcript they would be disadvantaged and it would be unjust to continue the appeal. The appellants had made numerous applications and requests for copies of the transcripts.

NAP members Robert Inder-Smith, Stuart Highway and Gary Meyerhoff, and anti-racism activist Mick Lambe of PARIAH, faced a three-day hearing against their convictions for ‘disturbing the Legislative Assembly’. The charges were a result of a peaceful protest in the chamber of the Assembly against the Government’s ‘drug house’ laws and institutionalised racism in the NT.

The four were convicted and sentenced to between 14 and 21 months jail in June 2003.

The hearing in the Magistrate’s Court lasted 16 days. Members of parliament, including the Chief Minister Clare Martin appeared as witnesses during the hearing.

The hearing of the appeal has been adjourned until the 30th August 2004.

For further information call the NAP media spokesperson Gary Meyerhoff on 0415 16 2525 or see http://www.napnt.org or contact the Acting Executive Director of the Office of Courts Administration on (08) 8999 7953.

People Against Racism In Aboriginal Homelands http://www.country-liberal-party.com

Northern Territory Supreme Court http://www.nt.gov.au/ntsc