Editorial Wyd No Place For Govt To Abuse Power
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday July 2, 2008
THE Iemma government has committed more than $80 million from the state's coffers towards the running of World Youth Day celebrations.
It has kicked the racing industry out of Royal Randwick for the Papal Mass, has agreed to close roads and even made parts of the city of Sydney accessible only to WYD participants.That's all fair enough and acceptable to the majority of fair-minded NSW residents who will welcome Catholic pilgrims to Sydney for what should be a wonderful gathering of the world's youth.But what they won't accept is the Government's invoking of extraordinary WYD police powers, including being able to arrest and fine people for simply causing annoyance, at hundreds of "declared areas" across Sydney including Darling Harbour, the Harbour Bridge, 500 schools and 35 railway stations.Like the Catholic Church, which has never been backwards in joining the debate on issues like sexual abuse, gay priests, stem cells, human rights and freedom of speech, protest groups should be allowed to get their message out during WYD provided there is no threat to Pope Benedict XVI and his entourage.The measures are draconian and were not requested by WYD organisers.They should be withdrawn immediately.
© 2008 Illawarra Mercury