A Sydney activist, 75, has embraced his right to call Tony Abbott a c***, appearing at a same-sex marriage rally with a profanity-laden sign about the former prime minister.
Well-known Sydney identity Danny Lim took part in a same-sex marriage rally in Sydney on Sunday with a sign depicting Mr Abbott’s face with the caption ‘c*** smile’.
Mr Lim was fined for using offensive language in a public place in February last year when he held a sign which said ‘Tony you c***’ – but the fine was overturned when a court ruled it was acceptable.
Well-known Sydney identity Danny Lim took part in a same-sex marriage rally in Sydney on Sunday with a sign depicting Mr Abbott’s face with the caption ‘c*** smile’
A NSW court made the decision in August this year ruling the sign was not offensive because it was ‘essential political comment’ and the word ‘c***’ was ‘prevalent in everyday language’.
The word in question was presented on the sign as a depiction of the word ‘can’t’ but the letter A was inverted.
Mr Lim’s sign at the rally was just the latest in a series of controversial messages the Sydney activist has shared.
Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been outspoken about his support for the ‘No’ campaign
‘This guy is hilarious… hope Tony has a sense of humour this time,’ one man said in support of Mr Lim
Print outs of Mr Abbott in red swimmers spelled out the word ‘YES’ at the rally on Sunday
The Sydney man has also addressed signs to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull saying ‘Malcolm you c***’ and ‘Malcolm you c*** or can be trusted?’
His sign was well received on Sunday, with same-sex marriage supporters praising the message.
‘This guy is hilarious… hope Tony has a sense of humour this time,’ one man said.
‘Thank you for always brightening my day Danny. You are wonderful,’ another said.
Mr Abbott has been outspoken about his support for the ‘No’ campaign.
Mr Lim and his sign garnered a massive amount of attention, with same-sex marriage supporters posing with him in the street
The former Prime Minister revealed he would vote ‘No’ to same-sex marriage, and has urged Australians to do the same
The former Prime Minister revealed he would vote ‘No’ to same-sex marriage, and has urged Australians to do the same.
‘If you’re worried about religious freedom and freedom of speech, vote ‘No’, and if you don’t like political correctness, vote ‘No’ because voting ‘No’ will help to stop political correctness in its tracks,’he said outside Parliament in August.
Mr Abbott said gay marriage was a ‘war on our way of life’.
While he was an opponent of same-sex marriage, Mr Abbott said he would respect the result of the public vote.
‘Peace, smile, people can change, Tony you c***, liar, heartless, cruel, peace be with you,’ the sign said on the front
Mr Lim was fined $500 for using offensive language in a public place but he refused to pay and fought his case in court
Mr Lim fought his case in court last year after he was fined $500 for using offensive language in a public place.
In February 2016 a magistrate found the sign calling Mr Abbott a ‘c***’ was offensive but on appeal, Judge Andrew Scotting disagreed and ruled it was ‘not necessarily offensive, even when used in a public place’.
‘Politicians and their views are often subject to criticism in public. This is an essential and accepted part of any democracy,’ Judge Scotting said on Tuesday.
‘That criticism can often extend to personal denigration or perhaps even ridicule, but still maintain its essential character as political comment.’
Judge Scotting said that then Prime Minister Tony Abbott did not deserve special treatment just because he was the leader of the Federal Government.
Judge Scotting said that then Prime Minister Tony Abbott did not deserve special treatment because he was the leader of the Federal Government
The judge said the word was so ‘prevalent’ in Australians’ language that it lost its power
He said the word was so ‘prevalent’ in Australians’ language that it lost its power.
‘The impugned word is now more prevalent in everyday language than it has previously been,’ Judge Scotting said.
‘The prevalence of the impugned word in Australian language is evidence that it is considered less offensive in Australia than other English speaking countries, such as the United States.’
Judge Scotting said Mr Lim’s conduct was ‘inappropriate and in poor taste’ but said he did not consider it offensive.
He said Mr Lim did not ‘unequivocally use the impugned word’ because the sandwich board used the word ‘can’t’.
While he said the word could easily be read as ‘c***’, he said ‘the language used was clearly a play on words’.
Mr Lim’s penalty and conviction were both set aside by Judge Scotting in August.
Judge Scotting said Mr Lim’s conduct was ‘inappropriate and in poor taste’ but said he did not consider it offensive