More on WYD regulations: Only overturned on a technicality

The Federal Court’s decision to overturn the WYD anti-annoyance regulation was not based on any infringement of basic rights, according to George Williams and Nicola McGarrity of the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law at the University of NSW. Rather, they point out, they were struck down on a technicality which could easily be fixed by the NSW parliament.

The case demonstrates clearly how little actual protection there is for the freedom of speech in Australia. It is long past time that such an important freedom was safeguarded in a national bill or charter of human rights.

Read more in the Sydney Morning Herald of July 16, 2008