Queensland’s ‘from the river to the sea’ laws likened to Bjelke-Petersen era anti-protest regime

Queensland's new hate speech laws, which took effect recently, are facing criticism and comparisons to the Bjelke-Petersen era's anti-protest measures. The laws have sparked controversy, particularly regarding the arrest of pro-Palestinian protesters using the phrase "from the river to the sea." A Greens MP characterized the police response as resembling an authoritarian state. The laws were passed by parliament last week, prompting debate over their potential impact on free speech and protest rights. Health Minister Tim Nicholls also clarified that the phrase was not used by the alleged Bondi terror attack gunman.