Greens applaud Government scrapping of sedition laws

Green Party MP Keith Locke welcomed Cabinet's decision to scrap the sedition laws, which Prime Minister Helen Clark said today were out of date, given that in her view any offences within its ambit could now be prosecuted under other laws.

"Traditionally, the sedition laws were used by the governments of the day to suppress political dissent, so this marks a victory for free speech and the right to dissent," Mr Locke says.

"It is particularly fitting that this step should be being taken by a Labour - led government - given that three of Helen Clark's predecessors as leader of the Labour Party were prosecuted under the same sedition laws that she is now consigning to the dustbin of history."

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