Brisbane photographer arrested under special G20 powers

[lynnb]

On tonight's news, a 57 year old photographer has been arrested in Brisbane while photographing on the steps of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. He was arrested under special powers granted to police under the G20 (Safety and Security) Act 2013 for the G20 conference, which starts next week. The arrest was made after he refused to give his details to police officers when directed, according to the media report.

Presumably if he had been taking the same photos yesterday there would not have been a problem, as the special police powers have only just come into effect. This is reported to be the first arrest under the new powers.

I feel sorry for Brisbane-ites. News reports say penalties of AUD$5,500 will apply for persons found carrying anything on a list of 70 prohibited items, including eggs and flotation devices(!).

One good thing is that during the G20, teams of lawyers working in pairs will be observing interactions between the public and the police. They state they will make footage available if required, for evidence. Police have said that if everyone obeys the rules and can provide reasonable explanations for their actions, there should be no problem.

Here's what Sydney looked like during the 2007 Sydney APEC conference. It was not the look one would want in tourist photos. Similar fencing has now been erected in Brisbane. Police were aware I was taking photos but did not stop me or interfere with me in any way.

 

[Black]

On tonight's news, a 57 year old photographer has been arrested in Brisbane while photographing on the steps of the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.... The arrest was made after he refused to give his details to police officers when directed...Police have said that if everyone obeys the rules and can provide reasonable explanations for their actions, there should be no problem.

Key elements to this story right there. If he can't see that the officers requests were reasonable given the location, circumstances and current climate, then he deserves a proportionate response. Likely to have read too many internet forums and was being a little obtuse.

The experience will be character building for him 😉

 

[EdwardKaraa]

Morale of the story: if you're asked by a police officer to give your details, you give your details with a friendly smile and get on with your life. I can't believe how idiotic some people can be in the name of freedom of any kind.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Morale of the story: if you're asked by a police officer to give your details, you give your details with a friendly smile and get on with your life. I can't believe how idiotic some people can be in the name of freedom of any kind.

Dear Edward,

ANY kind, eh?

Cheers,

R.

 

[Michael Markey]

Don`t forget the friendly smile ..... 🙄

 

[bonatto]

Don`t forget the friendly smile ..... 🙄

Indeed, goes a long way.

 

[frank-grumman]

Zeigen Sie mir Ihre Papiere, bitte.

 

[newsgrunt]

I have friends in various forces (local to federal) so I say this with that proviso. Be very wary of the police, esp those who remove their badge numbers. During the G20 in Toronto, a number of accredited photographers (you have to submit to CPIC scrutiny which is as high as it gets and they'll know what you had for breakfast type of scrutiny), yet they were roughed up and had their gear confiscated/stolen by police. Police said no rubber bullets were used yet one of these colleagues has the bullet and bruise to show.

Some suggest it was non local police brought in to bolster the numbers, not sure.

Between the Black Block crowd swinging lumber at photographers, having *some* police go after the media was just the icing. and also be wary of getting kettled.

Basically what I'm suggesting is unless you really need to document this gathering (from the other side of the fence), be forewarned that they will not play nice if they feel it's justified and to have a lawyer's phone # on hand. Seriously.

 

[presspass]

Don't automatically assume cops have the right to ask intrusive questions in the name of "security." This whole climate reminds me of the Lt. Colonel's comment during a Vietnam press conference. "We had to destroy the village to save it." Perhaps we can say the same of our freedom?

 

[Ronald M]

Maybe they should do a telephone conference in the future.

The most concerning thing to me is some international body making laws that override or replace existing laws put in place by a sovereign
nation. Two other examples are the United nations wanting to tax US citizens and to disarm them. We have a right to own guns providing there is no criminal history or mental condition.
Now if they went through the US law making process, it would be a different story. I think they should take gun away from terrorists first.

 

[Michael Markey]

Indeed, goes a long way.

But not as far as you may think ... holding them to account under the law however ...

 

[Keith]

I was thinking of heading into the city with the 240 this Fruday ... maybe not! 😀

 

[lynnb]

I sometimes wonder at the motivation behind locating these conferences in the middle of large cities, where security is surely more difficult (and expensive) to organise compared to, say, on a resort island on the Great Barrier Reef which could be exclusively booked. Being a cynic I suspect political ego plays a role in the decision. These events are a massive inconvenience to the people who live and work in the city every day. I much prefer real theatre to security theatre. At least with the Olympics, everyone got to party!

 

[Addy101]

Two other examples are the United nations wanting to tax US citizens and to disarm them. We have a right to own guns providing there is no criminal history or mental condition.

:bang::bang::bang::bang::bang:
Really? Do you really believe that humbug? The UN doesn't have any jurisdiction and unless you guys start a civil war (again) no foreign peacekeepers will enter the US.....

Oh, it's Australia, not Austria, they speak English, not German 😀

 

[NY_Dan]

Now that 57-year-old is famous! He should do a series of photos of places that can't be photographed on whatever day the law went into effect -- say a Friday, call the collection Forbidden Fridays, have a gallery show, show up to show in prison stripes with a camera strap made of miniature handcuffs, and rail against the man! Power to the people (photographers)! And I'm spent... Oh, remember, every cloud has a silver halide -- I said that. DW 11/8/2014

 

[Ranchu]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXdTH5RTNSI

 

[bsdunek]

Now that 57-year-old is famous! He should do a series of photos of places that can't be photographed on whatever day the law went into effect -- say a Friday, call the collection Forbidden Fridays, have a gallery show, show up to show in prison stripes with a camera strap made of miniature handcuffs, and rail against the man! Power to the people (photographers)! And I'm spent... Oh, remember, every cloud has a silver halide -- I said that. DW 11/8/2014

Great idea! If many did it, the rest of the public might find out what is happening here and around the world.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

If you act like (.) with police you'll get what you deserve.
Would it be this idiot who hasn't matured by 57, or those dope heads who are making riots and because of whom those fences has to be build.
I feel sorry for local business, yes. They are hit hard with access restrictions and then those criminals a.k.a. Anti globalist starting to break in.

 

[Ranchu]

Would it be this idiot who hasn't matured by 57, or those dope heads who are making riots and because of whom those fences has to be build.

"Punk: And that, leads us to another sometimes difficult point. That has to
do with talking to the police-at least, in any way you don't absolutely have to.
The best rule of thumb is: don't do it. Do not strike up a conversation with your
arresting officer. Now, I know, half of you are probably sitting there saying to
yourselves 'But cops are people too. Why shouldn't I try to reach out to them
like I would to anyone else? Why shouldn't I want to establish a human con-
nection?' Yes, I know. We've all felt that way. But there is a reason. The reason
is because it might end up getting you serious jail time. You have to remember
that when you're talking to a cop, you're not mainly talking to a human being;
mainly, you're talking to the representative of an institutional structure and that
institutional structure wants to see your ass in jail. That's their purpose. If a cop
is talking to you, trying to get information, that's probably the motive. They're
going to take advantage of your desire to reach out and establish a human con-
nection, and use it against you like they would with anything else. And chances
are you have no idea what they're really up to. So for example: say you're sitting
around waiting to be fingerprinted and in walks Officer Friendly and he says,
"So, I just don't get it. What did you think you were trying to accomplish by
sitting in that square?" So you tell him all about how you were trying to make a
point about corporate domination, or you launch into an elaborate description
of the effects of structural adjustment policies in Mozambique, and maybe he
even finds it interesting-but the thing is, actually, the only reason he asked
was to get a conviction. They needed to establish that you were actually in the
square. Half the time they don't even remember who the officer was,
where you were arrested, or what it was you were supposed to have done. So
now they got you.

The more you talk, the easier it is to charge you."



http://zinelibrary.info/files/Direct Action - An Ethnography.pdf

 

[Rick Waldroup]

Maybe they should do a telephone conference in the future.

The most concerning thing to me is some international body making laws that override or replace existing laws put in place by a sovereign
nation. Two other examples are the United nations wanting to tax US citizens and to disarm them. We have a right to own guns providing there is no criminal history or mental condition.
Now if they went through the US law making process, it would be a different story. I think they should take gun away from terrorists first.

Thanks for the laugh. It made my day.🙄