Under proposed laws of the Abbott federal government, groups seeking to boycott products linked to unsustainable environmental practices may soon be liable for prosecution.
Members of the Abbott government and industry groups are using a review of competition laws to push for a ban on campaigns against companies that harvest and use old-growth timber or overfished seafood on the grounds that they are selling products that damage the environment.
Groups including the Australian Forest Products Association and some sections of the seafood industry are also preparing submissions to the review arguing that environmental campaigns should be unlawful.
However, opponents to the proposed laws say they are un-democratic as they are trying to silence people trying to tell the truth in international markets about the sourcing of unsustainable timber and seafood.
It is a fundamental principle of democracy that people have the right to freedom of speech. It is also essential in a democrcay that government should not introduce legislation that is designed to protect the interests of unsustainable businesses.
Please sign and share the petition to demand the Abbott government does not legislate against environmental boycotts.
