‘Shame on you’: Premier and pro-Palestine activist clash at Stafford byelection booth

A tense confrontation unfolded at a polling booth in Chermside during the Stafford byelection, involving Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and independent candidate Liam Parry, a pro-Palestine activist. Parry, running for the Queensland Socialists, challenged Crisafulli over the state government’s recently introduced hate speech laws, which criminalize certain pro-Palestine slogans. Parry, who was the first person charged under these laws, accused the government of unjustly targeting Palestine activists and questioned the premier directly about the legislation’s implications. The exchange occurred as Crisafulli was handing out flyers early on Saturday morning, with Parry pressing the premier on why activists could face jail time for using banned phrases such as “globalise the intifada” and “from the river to the sea.” Crisafulli declined to engage in a detailed discussion, with a staffer intervening to indicate he was too busy. Parry expressed frustration at the lack of response, highlighting his own legal troubles stemming from the new laws and accusing the government of suppressing dissent. The premier’s office defended the legislation as a necessary measure to combat antisemitism and terrorism, introduced in the wake of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack last year. The incident took place amid the Stafford byelection, triggered by the sudden death of the former member, who had been expelled from the Labor Party and sat as an independent. Labor candidate Luke Richmond, seen as the frontrunner, cast his vote shortly after the confrontation. The byelection is viewed as a significant test of Crisafulli’s leadership following the LNP’s victory in the 2024 state election. The clash highlights ongoing tensions surrounding free speech, protest rights, and government efforts to address hate speech within Queensland’s political landscape.