Anglican Primate of Australia Dr Phillip Aspinall has joined criticism of the New South Wales Government's laws to protect Catholic World Youth Day events. The regulations empower police, firefighters and State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers to stop people who engage in conduct that causes annoyance or inconvenience to Catholic pilgrims during the week-long event.
The new rules cover 680 venues and those who do not comply face a fine of $5,500.
In an interview for this weekend's Sunday Profile, Archbishop Aspinall says there needs to be a very good reason to curtail individual liberties.
"I would have some concern about some the the reports I've heard about the laws, and I think perhaps inadvertently trying to contain things too tightly might well provoke an opposite reaction," he said.
The Council for Civil Liberties is preparing a court challenge against the new fines.
Protest groups and civil libertarians fear the rules could lead to the confiscation of items such as placards and T-shirts bearing anti-World Youth Day slogans.
New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties secretary Stephen Blanks earlier said the rules are absurd.
The council intends to bring the case to court next week.
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