Right-wing Canadian speakers' visit canned, legal action on back burner
Wednesday, 25 July 2018
A possible visit to Auckland next week by controversial Right-wing Canadian speakers Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux has been called off.
The Free Speech Coalition said on Wednesday time had run out for arrangements to be made for the pair.
'Everything would have to happen in such a tight timeframe, it's just not going to be possible,' said spokesperson Jordan Williams.
An urgent High Court hearing sought by the coalition and scheduled for Monday would not now go ahead, but a case would be pursued later in the year over the security and safety grounds cited in the cancellation.
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* Controversial Canadian speaker denied visa as Auckland agency cancels booking
The coalition was formed weeks ago after an Auckland Council agency decided to cancel the pair's booking at Takapuna's Bruce Mason Centre on security and safety grounds.
The group had raised $90,000 to challenge the legality of the cancellation and the role they believed Mayor Phil Goff had played.
The Free Speech Coalition is claiming as a 'partial victory' correspondence from the council which said Goff had had no part in the decision to cancel the booking, and it would have been improper for him to do so.
'The Free Speech Coalition's main purpose for next Monday's urgent application hearing has therefore gone,' said coalition member David Cumin.
Goff welcomed the decision by the coalition not to proceed with the court hearing on Monday.
'It's good that this group, who are supported by the Free Speech Coalition, has backed down and withdrawn their urgent legal action. Their case was always weak and ill conceived,' said Mr Goff
“More importantly, I am happy that we will not be using a ratepayer-funded council venue to hold an event that contravenes our values of diversity and inclusiveness.'
Goff's tweets following the decision to cancel the venue booking, had given the impression he had had a role and sparked the coalition's formation.
His office later confirmed he had not had any part in the move, which had been taken 'incredibly independently' by the agency Auckland Live.
The Free Speech Coalition said the money raised will be used for its legal case later this year.
A minute issued on Wednesdsay by Justice Edwin Wylie noted the council was 'entitled to seek costs consequent on the abandonment of the hearing scheduled for Monday next.'
September 6 has been set for a substantive hearing on the coalition's claim.
Southern and Molyneux have controversial views on immigration and faith, and prior to the council's move the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand had asked that they be denied visas.
Their visit next week following a five-city tour of Australia had been uncertain because of the loss of the venue, but late last week the promoter said it was still possible following the granting of visas.