South Australian Current Acts

[Index] [Table] [Search] [Search this Act] [Notes] [Noteup] [Previous] [Next] [Download] [Help]

SUMMARY OFFENCES ACT 1953 - SECT 18A

18A—Public meetings

        (1)         A person who, in, at or near a place where a public meeting is being held—

            (a)         behaves in a disorderly, indecent, offensive, threatening or insulting manner; or

            (b)         uses threatening, abusive or insulting words; or

            (c)         in any way, except by lawful authority or on some other lawful ground, obstructs or interferes with—

                  (i)         a person seeking to attend the meeting; or

                  (ii)         any of the proceedings at the meeting; or

                  (iii)         a person presiding at the meeting in the organisation or conduct of the meeting,

is guilty of an offence.

Maximum penalty: $1 250 or imprisonment for 3 months.

        (2)         Where, in the opinion of the person presiding at a public meeting, a person in, at or near the place at which the meeting is being held—

            (a)         is or has been behaving in a disorderly, indecent, offensive, threatening or insulting manner; or

            (b)         is or has been using threatening, abusive or insulting words; or

            (c)         in any way, except by lawful authority or on some other lawful ground, is or has been obstructing or interfering with—

                  (i)         a person seeking to attend the meeting; or

                  (ii)         any of the proceedings at the meeting; or

                  (iii)         a person presiding at the meeting in the organisation or conduct of the meeting,

the person presiding may request a police officer, or the police generally, to remove that person from the place or the area in the vicinity of the place.

        (3)         A request made under subsection (2) must be complied with by a police officer present or attending at the place at which the meeting is being held.

        (4)         In this section—

"person presiding", in relation to a public meeting, includes any person officiating at, or with responsibility for the organisation or conduct of, the meeting;

"place" means any place whether or not a hall, building or room;

"public meeting" includes any political, religious, social or other meeting, congregation or gathering that the public or a section of the public are permitted to attend, whether on payment or otherwise.



AustLII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback