Parliament Invasion commemorated in Darwin

The third anniversary of the infamous “Parliament Invasion” was commemorated with puffs of cannabis smoke at a protest rally in Darwin’s Raintree Park yesterday.

Yesterday’s rally – one of the Network Against Prohibition’s controversial “Community Smoke-Ins” - marked the day that nine NAP members walked into the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly while it was in session to protest against the draconian “drug house” legislation about to be implemented by the Labor Government.

As a result of the protest, nine people were charged with – “Intentionally disrupting the Legislative Assembly while it is in session” – an offence which carries a maximum jail term of three years. The NAP members are the only people to be charged with the offence in the entire Westminster system.

On June 5, 2003, after a marathon 16-day hearing in the Darwin Magistrate’s Court, Stuart Highway, Ema Corro, Michael Lambe, Gary Meyerhoff and Robert Inder-Smith were found guilty and sentenced to between 14 and 21 months jail. They were released on bail later that day pending an appeal against their conviction and sentence.

Robert Inder-Smith, Stuart Highway and Gary Meyerhoff have appealed the conviction to the full bench of the Northern Territory Supreme Court and are waiting for this to be heard later this year.

If the trio is unsuccessful, they will join Michael Lambe and Ema Corro in an appeal against the excessive sentence, which the NAP members believe is politically motivated.

In July this year, another NAP member, Scott White, who also “invaded” the NT Parliament in May 2002, will set a similar but more “senior” precedent in the Northern Territory Supreme Court when his “Parliament Invasion” charge is heard before a jury of Darwinites. Scott missed the original hearing in the Darwin Magistrate’s Court but was extradited back to the Northern Territory from Tasmania in March 2003.

As with the original “Parliament Invasion” hearing, local Members of Parliament, including the Chief Minister, the Opposition Leader and the Speaker will give be forced to give evidence.

His trial, before Northern Territory Chief Justice Brian Martin, is set down for two weeks commencing on July 18.

Speaking at yesterday’s rally, Stuart Highway, NAP member and one-time Darwin Lord-Mayoral candidate told shoppers, traders and passing tourists that drug prohibition was failing and that the war on drugs should end.

Highway, who ran as a NAP candidate in the 2003 Darwin City Council Lord-Mayoral election and polled more than 800 votes, compared drug prohibition to alcohol prohibition in the United States.

He said “beer marches’’ across America, on the 14th of May 1932 triggered the repeal of prohibition in 1933.

Today’s was the 22nd Community Smoke-In for Human Rights facilitated by NAP, whose members have vowed to continue their campaign until the “drug house” legislation is repealed and the Northern Territory Government implements a “commonsense” approach to drugs.

The 23rd Community Smoke-In for Human Rights will be held on July 9 and will have a Christmas in July theme, with a free Christmas lunch provided for the punters.

For more information call Rob or Gary on 0415 16 2525 or see the NAP website.

Click here to download the poster for the 23rd Community Smoke-In.

You can read the court transcripts of the original “Parliament Invasion” case here.