High Court Challenge

In 2018, the NSW Government tried to gag third-party campaigners with threats of jail time if organisations worked together on political campaigns as well as unworkable caps on campaign spending.  Police were also empowered to enter and search offices.

Unions NSW successfully challenged this move in High Court on the basis that it put a burden on the implied freedom of political communication under the Constitution.

This is a success shows how civil groups, like trade unions, environment groups and churches, can push back against attempts to muzzle them.