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Farnham lyrics fuel Queensland's "river to sea" art crackdown

Source: crikey.com.au

TL;DR

Queensland police probe artists over works using "river to the sea" from John Farnham song amid new hate speech ban.
Laws ban "from the river to the sea" and "globalise the intifada", with 2-year jail penalty if offensive.
Artists like Scott Marsh and Nordacious test artistic excuses, sparking free speech debate.

The story at a glance

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.

The laws respond to rising antisemitism post-Bondi terror attack.

Key moments & milestones

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)
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)
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)
~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)
~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)

Signature highlights

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/)
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)
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)
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)
No charges yet against artists; Marsh uncontacted as of 29 March.

Key quotes

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)
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)

Why it matters

Queensland'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.