Free Speech coalition 'clarifying' Goff stance before filing legal action

Monday, 16 July 2018

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff tweeted on the issue: 'Venues shouldn't be used to stir up ethnic or religious tensions.'

The Free Speech Coalition says it wants to 'clarify' the role of Auckland Mayor Phil Goff in the banning of two controversial speakers from a council venue, before it launches legal action.

The coalition was formed days after the booking by Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux was cancelled, and has raised $90,000 to seek a judicial review.

Members of the group have publicly questioned the right of the mayor to make a politically-based decision.

The group is now seeking clarity, after Goff told TVNZ's Q and A programme, his comments had followed the advice of the council agency that had already taken the move to cancel the pair's booking at the Bruce Mason Centre next month.

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'Today the group's lawyers are writing to the council to clarify the mayor's conflicting statements to media about whose decision it was to ban the speakers, and the reasons for the ban,' the coalition said in a statement.

Stuff has previously reported that while Goff's opposition to the pair gave the impression he had banned them, his comments in fact followed an independent decision by the council agency Regional Facilities Auckland, to cancel the booking on security, safety and contractual grounds.

The agency informed the mayor of the move it had taken, prompting tweets and public comments from Goff.

The Free Speech Coalition planned to take action under the Bill of Rights Act and Human Rights Act, on grounds of freedom of expression, and freedom from political discrimination.

It has engaged Jack Hodder QC, along with solicitors Franks Ogilvie.

The coalition had previously said it expected to file papers for a judicial review on Monday, but now said it will be this week.