NAVA writes to alert you to the potential impact of the Sedition Clause in the Anti-Terrorism legislation proposed for introduction into parliament in the next few days. The draft legislation can be viewed on www.chiefminister.act.gov.au.

NAVA believes that this will jeopardise both artists' and arts organisations' freedom of expression and action. The government has not demonstrated a need for these new sedition laws. These changes should not be made, and certainly not without proper public discussion.

If the government intends to proceed with the laws then the new offences are too wide because they affect unfairly and in breach of freedom of expression (recognised at international law). The government must limit the ambit of the new offences to protect artists, journalists and others involved in the visual arts.

NAVA urges you to take immediate action by writing to, ringing or arranging to meet with any or all of the parliamentarians listed to tell them that changes need to be made to the legislation in order to protect artists' and other people's rights to freedom of expression.

Even if the legislation is introduced into the lower house of parliament there is still time to negotiate changes.

We have sought the advice of the President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights as to exactly what changes should be made.

NAVA rarely asks its members to take this kind of direct action but we consider this such an important issue that we are contacting you to ask that you act quickly to let the decision makers know of your concerns.

Tamara Winikoff
Executive Director
National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA)
Web: http://www.visualarts.net.au