Dear Attorney-General,
In Australia, no one is above the law.
If a corporation or government is harming you or your community, then no matter who you are or how much you earn, you have the right to challenge them in court.
Through public interest litigation, the victims of Robodebt won justice. People poisoned by asbestos companies received compensation. First Nations leaders overturned the racist doctrine of Terra Nullius. Prisoners won the right to vote. Public interest litigation protected our right to protest, ensured children with disability get proper schooling, and stopped big supermarkets from underpaying their workers.
Ordinary people using the law to challenge the powerful is a vital part of our democracy.
But increasingly, the powerful are using the law to stifle debate and silence ordinary people.
Giant corporations are tying their critics up in legal tape and spurious claims. These dirty tactics are called SLAPPs - strategic lawsuits against public participation. SLAPPs attempt to chill public debate by making people afraid to participate for fear of getting sued.
We are experts in the legal, community, human rights, health and environment sectors, who know that public participation – and a healthy, open debate – transforms our society for the better.
We are calling on the Federal government to stand up to companies that are attempting to undermine Australians’ right to advocate, by passing anti-SLAPP legislation that protects our right to public participation.
SLAPPs impact many forms of public participation, from journalism to public advocacy to union organising. Organisations of all kinds are invited to sign this open letter to show support for anti-SLAPP legislation and help advocate for its introduction.
350.org Australia
Australian Alliance for Animals
Alliance Against Political Prosecutions
Australian Centre for International Justice
Australian Conservation Foundation
Australian Council of Social Service
Australian Democracy Network
Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network
The Australia Institute
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights
Australian Marine Conservation Society
Australia Palestine Advocacy Network
Australian Religious Response to Climate Change
Australian Services Union ACT/NSW Branch
Australian Youth Climate Coalition
Asylum Seekers Centre
Be Slavery Free
Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action
Canberra Alliance for Participatory Democracy
Central Victoria Climate Action
Climate Action Monaro
Climate Action Network Australia
Climate Change Balmain-Rozelle
Climate Justice Union
CLIMARTE
Community Council for Australia
Community Disaster Action Group
Community Legal Centres Australia
Community Legal Centres NSW
Community Legal WA
Conservation Council of WA
Disrupt Burrup Hub
Doctors for the Environment Australia
Environmental Justice Australia
Environment Victoria
Extinction Rebellion
Fair Agenda
Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education
Friends of the Earth Melbourne
Friends of the Earth Australia
GetUp
Green Music Australia
Greenpeace Australia Pacific
House You
Humanists Victoria
Human Rights Law Centre
ICAN Australia
Islamic Friendship Association of Australia
Johnson Legal
Jubilee Australia Research Centre
Justice Connect
Just Peace Qld
Koala Action Inc
Lock the Gate Alliance Ltd
National Justice Project
Nature Conservation Council (NSW)
NSW Council for Civil Liberties
Market Forces
Medical Association for Prevention of War
Melbourne Activist Legal Support
March 4 Justice Australia
Nillumbik Climate Action Team
Our Macedonia Australia
Oxfam Australia
Parents for Climate
Peoples Climate Action Coalition
Perth Hills Climate Change Interest Group Inc
Public Health Association of Australia
Queensland Conservation Council
Reclaim Our Recovery
Reichstein Foundation
Rising Tide
SCALES Community Legal Centre
School Strike for Climate
Solar Citizens
Stop Adani
Unionists for Palestine Victoria
Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania
University of Melbourne Student Union
Victorian Forest Alliance
The Wilderness Society
Wombat Action Group
World Animal Protection
Yarra Climate Action Now