Greens score a rare victory in ‘tidy town’

BY ALEX MCDONALD

Council has amended its hardline poster policy, taking “genuine political posters” out of the equation.

The decision not to prosecute activists who use street posters to advertise their events followed a free speech protest against the poster ban led by Greens councillors Chris Harris and Irene Doutney outside Town Hall last Monday.

In an act of defiance against the ban, which came into effect three days ago, Cr Doutney and Cr Harris sticky-taped “Walk Against Warming” flyers onto several George Street smart poles. Waiting police and rangers chose not to fine the pair.

Cr Harris described the poster ban as: “An ill-thought-out, discretionary policy to turn Sydney into a tidy town.”

Council responded by assuring activists that it will now focus solely on those enterprises which profit from postering.

“While the city wants to discourage environmentally damaging costly practices, we will not prosecute people putting up genuine political posters,” a council spokesman said.

“Generally these posters are used less frequently than bill posters used by major commercial businesses.

“The city will focus on prosecuting commercial businesses which prolifically cover public and private property, with illegal bill posters costing ratepayers more than $6 million to remove in the past four years.’

Fines will start at $320 per poster, with a maximum penalty of $1500.

A council spokeswoman told The City News last week that the eight poster pillars would provide a ‘legitimate space’ for public notices and other promotional material.

But Alex Bainbridge from the Free Speech Alliance said: ‘That’s a bit like having free speech every Wednesday.’