On Tuesday 15 September Western Australia’s Legislative Assembly voted to ban the sale of spray paint and markers over 6mm wide to people under 18. As early as next week the bill will be debated in the Upper House.
If passed, this will see WA have the most restictive laws in the country. It would make it a criminal offence to sell an 8 year old a bold calligraphy pen. A 10 year old a packet of fabric markers. A 17 year old student spray paint for their school assignment. There is no exceptions made for educational or employment purposes as there are in other states.
Whilst the bill is in the name of reducing graffiti, the reality is that the changes in the law will adversely effect a much broader cross section of the community. It will only add to the discrimination and demonisation faced by thousands of legitimate spray paint users, and the marker restrictions will be an impractical measure to hundreds of thousands more.
For more information about the bill visit www.thinkfirstwa.info
Well done WA. Let’s further address the issue of graffiti in schools by banning anyone under the age of 17 from entering school premises.