It has become a wallowing cringe.  The extolling of multi-cultural values, the incessant self-praise of diversity, variety and cosmopolitanism, only to then impose, in the name of such values, a restrictive regime of speech, language and conduct seemed suitable to – who else? – the jerky authorities.  In diversity we must oppress; in variety we must police.  The Bondi Beach killings by two alleged ISIS supporters during a Hanukkah event have seen Australian lawmakers succumb to the panic of immediate results and shoddy gains.  

It matters not how poor the legislation is, how ill-thought its words are: something must be seen to be done. Historical and cultural context, inconveniences for expedient legislators and magistrates, is also absent: ISIS has never bothered itself with the cause of Palestinian sovereignty, aspiring, instead, to the creation of a murderous caliphate.

The need to be seen to be doing something has manifested in a range of measures from tighter gun controls to the outlawing of protests and the intended prohibition of various words.  Farmers are furious that they were not consulted regarding the first matter, reminding lawmakers that food security also requires vigilance against agricultural vermin.  Activists, civil libertarian advocates and human rights groups are worried about the last two.

The NSW Premier Chris Minns has decided on a blanketing approach, seeing all protests associated with pro-Palestinian marches as part of a common, insidious condition.  On 17 December, he told gathered members of the press “that protest right now in Sydney would be incredibly terrible for our community. In fact, they would rip apart our community, particularly protests about international events”.

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