I spoke with a number of representatives of environmental groups last night, and there were varying levels of concern expressed about the provisions of this Bill and to what extent the Government could, if it wished, apply them to legitimate protest action.

However, I think it’s safe to say there was general agreement that, at minimum, a clause which explicitly stated that the intent of the Bill was not to attempt to lump legitimate protest action in with terrorism should be added to the new Bill. Peace Action Wellington points out in their action alert that even the Terrorism Suppression Act contains such a clause:

“To avoid doubt, the fact that a person engages in any protest, advocacy, or dissent, or engages in any strike, lockout, or other industrial action, is not, by itself, a sufficient basis for inferring that the person is carrying out an act for a purpose, or with an intention or intends to cause an outcome.”

Therefore, even if you don’t think wider changes are needed to the Bill, I would encourage you to submit that a clause along these lines be added.