Parliament Invaders take it to the top

On May 14, 2002, a group of people associated with the Darwin-based drug law-reform group, the Network Against Prohibition NT (NAPNT), invaded the chamber of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly whilst it was in session.

The action was a protest at the NT Governments’ ‘drug house’ legislation, legislation that allows police to signpost the homes of drug users with a 1.2 metre high fluorescent green sign.

After a 16-day hearing in the Darwin Magistrates court, a number of NAPNT members were given severe sentences, including terms of imprisonment.

Three NAPNT members, Robert Inder-Smith, Stuart Highway and Gary Meyerhoff appealed against their conviction and this appeal was rejected by Justice David Angel in the NT Supreme Court on 17 September 2004.

This morning, the NAPNT trio will appear before three justices of the NT Court of Appeal, the Chief Justice Brian Martin, Justice Dean Mildren and Justice Sally Thomas. They are unrepresented.

The hearing will be held in the NT Supreme Court at 10am today.

For more information call 0415 16 2525 (+61 415 16 2525 from overseas) or see http://www.napnt.org. You may also want to contact Jack Karczewski, deputy director of the NT Department of Public Prosecutions. He is representing the Crown in this matter and he can be contacted on (08) 8999 7315 (+61 8 8999 7315 from overseas).

The NAPNT members written submissions to the court of appeal are available in a Microsoft Word version here.

And in html format here.