Hi Everyone
This is a simple story that one can keep in mind that such laws will in the end fall flat on their face. I'm sure there are other similar stories around the world. So lean back, relax and have a laugh.
Protest Tactics 101: From Queenslands Empty Streets to Paxton's Transgender Tip Lines
In Queensland during the 1970s and 1980s, Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen's government imposed strict limits on public protest. Activists faced bans on marches which police enforced strongly. In response, civil liberties groups used creative tactics. They would announce a protest location, then turn up in small groups or disperse when police arrived, leaving streets empty. Police would wait at the announced site, find nothing happening, then move on. This pattern of announced protests that never materialised repeated many times. It showed how people resisted overly harsh restrictions on free assembly by forcing police to respond to empty sites rather than real demonstrations.
After years of pressure and public criticism, these protest laws were eventually relaxed and Queensland's approach to public assembly became less severe. Over time the state shifted toward more balanced rules that recognised the right to protest while keeping public safety in mind.
Today there are proposals like the "tip line" mentioned in the above article that Jessica mentioned where people are encouraged to report suspected people using the wrong bathrooms. History from Queensland suggests that systems designed to generate reports or complaints may not work as intended. People may misuse or flood them with false leads, authorities may be overwhelmed and civil rights could be undermined by enforcement based on unverified tips. The Queensland example shows that attempts to control behaviour through reactive reporting can backfire, create confusion and strain police resources without solving the underlying issue.
Be safe out there.
Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator