Boycotting is a type of protest that has been applied to bring about change throughout history. It entails refusing to consume or purchase products or services from a specific business or nation in an effort to push them to alter their policies or practises. In Australia, boycotts have grown in popularity in recent years as more individuals utilise them to express their opposition to everything from environmental injustice to violations of human rights. In this blog post, keep reading this Legal Kitz blog to know more about the history of boycotts in Australia as well as their usefulness and potential legal repercussions.
The History of Boycotts
Boycotts have a long history in Australia and were first used to oppose the importation of goods from nations that were thought to be abusing their labour force in the early 20th century. Boycotts were used to protest apartheid in South Africa in the 1960s and 1970s and to protest the harvesting of old-growth forests in Tasmania in the 1980s.
More recently, boycotts have been utilised as a form of protest against businesses that are thought to be causing climate change, like the Queensland-based Adani coal project. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison promised to forbid boycott movements in 2019 if they threaten the nation’s mining sector. However, boycotts have persisted as a means of expression in Australia, where some contend they are crucial for bringing about change.
The Effectiveness of Boycotts
It is debatable if boycotts are effective. Some contend that they are a powerful tool for applying pressure to businesses and governments to alter their practises. For instance, Australian Olympic athletes pleaded with Chinese authorities to permit them to bring Vegemite, a necessary Australian delicacy, to Beijing in 2008. Local media nicknamed the order that the Australian Olympic team must purchase all of its food supplies from China the “vegemite ban”. The athletes were granted permission to bring Vegemite to the competition after the appeal was granted.
Others contend that boycotts are ineffective in bringing about change and that they may even hurt the people they are meant to aid. For instance, some contend that boycotting Israeli products harms Palestinian employees of Israeli businesses. Others contend that boycotting businesses that are thought to be causing climate change could hurt mining industry jobs.
Legal Implications of Boycotting
Boycotting can have legal implications, depending on the circumstances. In 2019, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison threatened to enact laws that ban people from pushing for irresponsible businesses to be boycotted3. However, the legality of boycotts is complex, and depends on a number of factors, including the nature of the boycott, the reasons for the boycott, and the impact of the boycott on the company or country being boycotted.
Australian law generally protects boycotts that are non-violent and nonviolent. Violence or threats of violence, however, are prohibited in boycotts. Furthermore, Australian law forbids boycotts that aim to harm a specific group of people, such as a racial or religious one.
Boycotting is a type of protest that has been applied to bring about change throughout history. Australia has used boycotts to express opposition to everything from environmental injustice to violations of human rights. Even though there is disagreement over whether boycotts are effective, they are nevertheless utilised as a form of protest in Australia. However, there are several variables that affect and complicate the legal ramifications of boycotting. It’s crucial to comprehend the legal repercussions of your activities if you’re thinking about a boycott of a certain organisation or nation.
Legal Advice
If you have any concerns or questions regarding boycotting, you can always contact Legal Kitz to assist you. To request a FREE 30-minute consultation with one of our highly experienced team members, contact us at [email protected] or 1300 988 954. You can also check out our sister company – Business Kitz’s Subscriptions, to access our full range of legal, commercial and employment document templates to begin your business with a solid foundation that ensures compliance.