The sentence of two-and-a-half months’ jail imposed upon political activist Albert Langer shows the law and the Electoral Commission are asses. The sentence will give Mr Langer some satisfaction in showing the law is an ass.
Mr Langer was jailed for defying a February Victorian Supreme Court injunction barring him from distributing pamphlets urging voters not to allocate preferences to the major parties. The jail term was imposed after Mr Langer told the judge: “”The only way you can constrain me is to lock me up.” The judge fell for it and made Mr Langer a martyr and the commission a fool.
Justice Barry Beach, who ordered the injunction after a complaint from the commission, said Langer’s defiance was a blatant contempt of court. Immediately after the injunction was issued, held a news conference and handed out more leaflets.
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