Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Sri

The Attorney-General for the State of Queensland brought an urgent application against the third and fourth respondents, seeking an injunction to restrain them from attending, or encouraging others to attend, a planned sit-in protest on the Story Bridge on 8 August 2020. The application was made ex parte, without notice to the respondents, and the Court was required to determine whether the injunction should be granted in the circumstances. The application was heard by the Supreme Court of Queensland.

The legal issues before the Court were whether the injunction should be granted, considering the public interest in preventing potential disruption to public transport, the risk of injury or death to the respondents and others, and the importance of maintaining public order and safety. The Court considered the evidence presented by the applicant, including the potential impact of the protest on the public and the likelihood of the respondents attending the protest despite the injunction. The Court also took into account the right to freedom of assembly and expression, and the need to balance this against the potential harm caused by the protest.

The Court found that the injunction should be granted, as the potential harm caused by the protest outweighed the respondents' right to freedom of assembly and expression. The Court noted that the protest posed a significant risk to public safety and could cause substantial disruption to public transport and the surrounding community. The Court also found that the respondents were likely to attend the protest despite the injunction, and that there was a real risk that they would encourage others to do the same. The Court therefore granted the injunction, restraining the respondents from attending or encouraging others to attend the protest, and imposing other conditions to ensure public safety and order.

The Court made an order restraining the third and fourth respondents from attending, or encouraging others to attend, the planned sit-in protest on the Story Bridge on 8 August 2020. The order also prohibited the respondents from interfering with access to public rights of way on the Story Bridge, and required them to post a notice on their websites and social media pages stating that the event had been the subject of an injunction ordered by the Supreme Court of Queensland. The Court further ordered that the applicant serve the order on the respondents, and that the application be adjourned to a later date for further consideration. Costs were reserved for another day.