Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Price has launched a blistering attack on what she describes as a "glaring double standard" in the treatment of anti-immigration protesters versus other demonstrations.
In a powerful address that has sent shockwaves through Westminster, Ms. Price vehemently defended the right of citizens to protest against mass immigration, drawing direct parallels to the Black Lives Matter movement.
A Question of Selective Outrage
Ms. Price pointed to the recent protests in Canberra, where activists gathered to voice concerns over record immigration levels. She questioned why these demonstrators were being vilified while other protests, which she claimed involved similar tactics, were celebrated.
"If we're going to condemn these protesters," she stated, "then we must be consistent and condemn all protesters who employ the same methods, regardless of the cause they champion."
The Canberra Protests and Political Reaction
The controversy stems from demonstrations where activists displayed signs with strong anti-immigration messages. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton faced significant pressure to condemn the protests, which he ultimately did.
However, Ms. Price has broken ranks, offering a robust defence of the protesters' fundamental right to free speech and peaceful assembly, even if their views are considered contentious.
Drawing Parallels: BLM and Beyond
The heart of Ms. Price's argument rests on what she sees as selective condemnation. She challenged journalists and politicians who had criticised the Canberra protests but had supported or justified disruptive actions by other movements.
"This is not about agreeing with the message," she emphasised, "but about defending the principle. The moment we start deciding which causes are worthy of protest and which are not is the moment we undermine democracy itself."
Her intervention has ignited a fierce debate on free speech, political hypocrisy, and the limits of public discourse in a divided modern Britain.
