Hannan Exposes Salvation Army

Mr Hannan suggested that even though an assembly was quite lawful those involved could be arrested for unlawful assembly if anyone near it became afraid. He cited a case earlier in the century when a group of Salvation Army people were beaten up by thugs, and then arrested by the police for unlawful assembly - "You can be out there praising the Lord and still get done".

Although the case in hand would not set a law precedent, the police would take notice of the outcome, so he supported funding counsel for the accused.

Students' Association Vice-president, Steve Underwood warned us to leave the case alone because the accused would get off anyway (since a case had to be proved against all members of the party).

He accused students of showing a lack of faith in the judicial sytem, and should be more careful about what cases they threw their weight behind. He advised waiting to see the outcome of the initial trial, and then, if required, supporting an appeal against the verdict.

Tony Ward replied that the accused would certainly be convicted in the initial trial unless they were provided with adequate counsel. Students had already been charged with unlawful assembly (to wit at the Weedons military base in 1973) such a law is "fascist" and should be opposed on principle.

Lloyd Jobson thought section 86 was basically a bad law - "You or I could be tried on the fears of someone else - it doesn't have to be real". In saying this, he got to the guts of why exactly this law was up the shoot.