The Gillard Labor government and their allies the Greens today confirmed they do not believe in free speech.

Labor and the Greens voted against a notice of motion moved in the names of The Nationals Senators for New South Wales John Williams and Fiona Nash which had asked the Senate to support Australians’ democratic right to protest peacefully.

Senators Williams and Nash said the recent carbon tax rally and Convoy of No Confidence in Canberra had been an exercise in peaceful demonstration, unlike some that Labor members like Climate Change Minister Greg Combet and Greens leader Bob Brown have been involved in.

The notice of motion also asked that both parties apologise for derogatory comments their senior leaders made about the Convoy of No Confidence.

Senator Williams said :“By voting against our motion today, the Labor-Greens alliance have shown the height of arrogance towards the Australian people. Their message is you cannot object to anything we do or we will denigrate you”

Senator Nash said : “If the Labor powerbrokers are wondering why their primary vote is a dismal 27% and Australians cannot wait to have their say at an election, they should look no further than today’s vote on our notice of motion. Democracy is not on their agenda.”