{"url":"https://www.crikey.com.au/2026/04/02/john-farnham-river-to-the-sea-queenslands-war-on-words/","title":"Farnham lyrics fuel Queensland's \"river to sea\" art crackdown","domain":"crikey.com.au","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/7149332/pexels-photo-7149332.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","category":"Politics","language":"en","slug":"71d4f991","id":"71d4f991-6da7-4062-956a-dff331eedfde","description":"Queensland police probe artists over works using \"river to the sea\" from John Farnham song amid new hate speech ban.","summary":"## TL;DR\n- **Queensland** police probe artists over works using **\"river to the sea\"** from **John Farnham** song amid new hate speech ban.\n- Laws ban **\"from the river to the sea\"** and **\"globalise the intifada\"**, with **2-year** jail penalty if offensive.\n- Artists like **Scott Marsh** and **Nordacious** test artistic excuses, sparking free speech debate.\n\n## The story at a glance\n**Queensland** enacted Australia's first state ban on pro-Palestinian phrases **\"from the river to the sea\"** and **\"globalise the intifada\"** if used to offend, prompting police to warn artists. Street artist **Scott Marsh** painted a **Brisbane** mural of **John Farnham** with lyrics **\"reaching out forever like a river to the sea\"** from *Two Strong Hearts*, plus watermelons, drawing police inquiries. Artist **James Hillier** (**Nordacious**) removed online listings of similar satirical works after a police call.\nThe laws respond to rising antisemitism post-**Bondi terror attack**.\n\n## Key moments & milestones\n- **5 March 2026**: **Queensland Parliament** passes hate speech laws banning the phrases when menacing or offensive, max **2 years** jail.[[1]](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-05/qld-hate-speech-laws-passed-parliament/106420306)\n- **11 March 2026**: First arrests under laws; **Bonnie Carter** cautioned for wearing phrase, **Liam Parry** charged for displaying it.[[2]](https://www.smh.com.au/politics/queensland/from-the-river-to-the-sea-and-into-police-sights-for-brisbane-artists-20260328-p5zjhp.html)\n- Late **March 2026**: **Scott Marsh** paints **Farnham** mural in **South Brisbane**; vandalised within **24 hours** but reinstated.[[3]](https://www.reddit.com/r/aussie/comments/1s89h0g/farnham_mural_starts_a_paint_war)\n- **~28 March 2026**: Police contact **Nordacious** over online prints including **Farnham** artwork; he removes listings.[[2]](https://www.smh.com.au/politics/queensland/from-the-river-to-the-sea-and-into-police-sights-for-brisbane-artists-20260328-p5zjhp.html)\n- **~28 March 2026**: Police launch \"further inquiries\" into **Marsh** mural.[[2]](https://www.smh.com.au/politics/queensland/from-the-river-to-the-sea-and-into-police-sights-for-brisbane-artists-20260328-p5zjhp.html)\n\n## Signature highlights\n- Laws target public recitation, display, or publication of phrases if reasonably expected to harass/offend; defendant proves \"reasonable excuse\" like art.[[4]](https://www.crikey.com.au/lexisnexis/)\n- **Marsh** mural on **Peel Street, South Brisbane**: **Farnham** portrait, lyrics **\"river to the sea\"**, watermelons (Palestinian flag colours); aims to highlight speech limits.[[5]](https://www.instagram.com/p/DWiIcFfAWdD)\n- **Nordacious** works: **Crisafulli** suppressing speech, **Farnham**/watermelon/lyrics print, arrest of **Carter**; removed from site but social posts remain.[[2]](https://www.smh.com.au/politics/queensland/from-the-river-to-the-sea-and-into-police-sights-for-brisbane-artists-20260328-p5zjhp.html)\n- **Police Minister Dan Purdie**: \"Jewish Queenslanders simply don't feel safe\"; laws enshrine phrases post-**Bondi** attack killing **15**.[[1]](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-05/qld-hate-speech-laws-passed-parliament/106420306)\n- No charges yet against artists; **Marsh** uncontacted as of **29 March**.\n\n## Key quotes\n- **Police Minister Dan Purdie**: \"Jewish Queenslanders simply don't feel safe. They don't feel protected.\"[[1]](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-05/qld-hate-speech-laws-passed-parliament/106420306)\n- **James Hillier** (**Nordacious**): \"What scares me most isn’t what’s happening to me specifically. It’s the precedent.\"[[2]](https://www.smh.com.au/politics/queensland/from-the-river-to-the-sea-and-into-police-sights-for-brisbane-artists-20260328-p5zjhp.html)\n\n## Why it matters\nQueensland's laws set a precedent for criminalising slogans amid Israel-Palestine tensions, shifting focus from hate content to specific words. Artists and protesters risk **2-year** terms unless proving artistic/public interest excuses, chilling expression. Watch court cases like **Liam Parry**'s **8 April** hearing and potential charges against artists.","hashtags":["#freespeech","#hatespeech","#queensland","#art","#palestine","#australia"],"viewCount":2,"publishedAt":"2026-04-05T02:58:56.998Z"}