Danny Lim (activist)

Last updated

Danny Lim
Danny Lim with dog.jpg
Councillor of the Municipality of Strathfield
In office
13 September 2008 8 September 2012
Personal details
Born1944 (age 7980)
Political party Independent
Residence(s) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
OccupationFormer councillor
and electrician

Danny Lim (born 1944) is an Australian activist and former politician. He is known for wearing political protest signs on a sandwich board.

Contents

Early life

In 1963 Lim moved from Malaysia to Australia, where he began work as an electrical technician. [1]

Political career

Local government (2008–2012)

In 2008, Lim was elected to the of the Strathfield Council as the lead candidate for an independent ticket, which received 13% of the vote. [2] Lim ran on the policy of "openness, transparency, accountability and morality" in the council, and refused to get paid for his time in office. [3]

State and Federal campaigns

During the 2016 Federal election, Lim ran for the Australian Senate and received 0.01% of the vote in New South Wales. [4] He also ran as an Independent for the Legislative Council in the 2019 New South Wales election, gaining 644 votes (0.01%). [5]

Film and music

Lim was a background actor in the movie Three Thousand Years of Longing. [6] He played a storyteller, with his dog Smarty, attempting to squash the bloodlust of a tyrannical ruler.

Lim's infamous court case over the use of an offensive word on one of his signs was featured in the award-winning short documentary You Can You Cvn't.

Lim features on the album cover of Sticky Fingers Lekkerboy album. [7]

Lim was featured in a cameo in season two of Australian teen drama Heartbreak High. [8] Lim also had a cameo in the 2024 film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and attended the premiere in Sydney. [9]

Offensive language court case

In 2015, Lim was fined $500 for offensive conduct after publicly wearing a sign which labelled the then Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott a 'Cunt'. [10] A GoFundMe campaign by supporters raised enough money to cover the fine within less than an hour. [11] The court ruled that the word 'cunt' is not always offensive when said in public compared to countries like the United States and that the fine would have constricted his right to political communication implied in the Constitution. [12] Due to this ruling, he was not fined. The case was seen by law professor Luke McNamara as a step towards protecting civil liberties. [13]

Arrest at Barangaroo

Lim was arrested for offensive behaviour at Barangaroo in January 2019. [14] This was due to a sign which included the word 'CVNT' which was previously ruled by the courts as legal. He has since commenced legal action against the charge and the police officers who arrested him. [15] A rally was held to protest the arrest which was reportedly attended by approximately 300 people. [16] The case was later dismissed on 30 August 2019. [17]

Incident at the Queen Victoria Building, Sydney

On 22 November 2022, he sustained injuries during an arrest in the Queen Victoria Building, leaving him hospitalised. This arrest was later discontinued. [18] On 24 November 2022, he was released from St Vincent's Hospital with "a plan in place for ongoing monitoring" after suffering bleeding on the brain. [19]

Lim taken to hospital April 2023

Lim was taken to hospital in April 2023 after an altercation with a security guard at Barangaroo. [20]

Lim taken to hospital September 2023

On 22 September 2023 Lim was assaulted at Strathfield train station in Sydney by a 66 year-old man while advocating for the 'Yes' voice referendum vote. [21] He was treated and taken to the Concord Repatriation General Hospital where he received a CAT scan and was later reported to have an eye bleed injury. [22] [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney</span> Capital city of New South Wales, Australia

Sydney is the capital city of the state of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about 80 km from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Blue Mountains in the west, and about 80 km from the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and the Hawkesbury River in the north and north-west, to the Royal National Park and Macarthur in the south and south-west. Greater Sydney consists of 658 suburbs, spread across 33 local government areas. Residents of the city are colloquially known as "Sydneysiders". The estimated population in June 2023 was 5,450,496, which is about 66% of the state's population. The city's nicknames include the "Emerald City" and the "Harbour City".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Abbott</span> Prime Minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015

Anthony John Abbott is an Australian former politician who served as the 28th prime minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015. He held office as the leader of the Liberal Party of Australia and was the member of parliament (MP) for the New South Wales division of Warringah from 1994 to 2019.

Abortion in Australia is legal. There are no federal abortion laws, and full decriminalisation of the procedure has been enacted in all jurisdictions. Access to abortion varies between the states and territories: Surgical abortions are readily available on request within the first 22 to 24 weeks of pregnancy in most jurisdictions, and up to 16 weeks in Tasmania. Later-term abortions can be obtained with the approval of two doctors, although the Australian Capital Territory only requires a single physician's approval.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lendlease</span> Multinational construction and real estate company headquartered in Australia

Lendlease is a multinational construction and real estate company, headquartered in Barangaroo, New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Youth Day 2008</span> International Catholic youth event

World Youth Day 2008 was a Catholic youth festival that started on 15 July and continued until 20 July 2008 in Sydney, Australia. It was the first World Youth Day held in Australia and the first World Youth Day in Oceania. This meeting was decided by Pope Benedict XVI, during the Cologne World Youth Day of 2005. The theme was "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew O'Keefe</span> Australian television presenter

Andrew Patrick O'Keefe AM is an Australian former television presenter and lawyer. He co-hosted the weekend edition of breakfast program Weekend Sunrise from 2005 until 2017 as well as the Australian versions of game shows Deal or No Deal, and The Chase Australia. In 2024, he was convicted of drug and domestic violence offences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hillsong Conference</span> Annual Christian conference in Sydney, Australia

Hillsong Conference is a mid-year week-long annual Christian conference hosted in Sydney, Australia, with a smaller three-day event held in London later each year. It is the largest annual conference in Australia of any kind. The event is hosted by Hillsong Church at the Qudos Bank Arena and surrounding Olympic Park precinct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Thomson (politician)</span> Australian former politician

Craig Robert Thomson is an Australian former trade union official and a former politician implicated in the Health Services Union expenses affair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crown Resorts</span> Australian gambling and hospitality company

Crown Resorts Limited is an Australian gaming and entertainment group that owns and operates various entertainment complexes, including Crown Melbourne, Crown Perth and Crown Sydney. It was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange until purchased by Blackstone in June 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonia McMahon</span> Australian philanthropist

Sonia Rachel McMahon, Lady McMahon, was an Australian socialite and philanthropist. She was the wife of Sir Billy McMahon, who served as Prime Minister of Australia from 1971 to 1972, and the mother of actor Julian McMahon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Abbott</span> Australian cricketer (born 1992)

Sean Anthony Abbott is an Australian professional cricketer originally from Windsor in New South Wales who has represented his country internationally in white ball cricket. After playing in junior cricket for Baulkham Hills Cricket Club, he progressed to play grade cricket for Parramatta District. Abbott completed his schooling at Gilroy College, Castle Hill. He is an all-rounder who bats right-handed. He was a part of the Australian squad which won the 2023 Cricket World Cup. He is also included in Australia squad against Scotland in 2024

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney anti-Islam film protests</span> Protest against anti-Islamic film

On 15 September 2012, a protest against the anti-Islamic film Innocence of Muslims was held in Sydney, New South Wales. While the protest started peacefully, violent confrontations between police and protesters began when protesters reached the United States Consulate General. In resulting clashes, six police officers and 19 protesters were injured. The violence was condemned by Australian political leaders, including Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Police arrested nine protesters in connection with the violence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crown Sydney</span> Skyscraper in Barangaroo, New South Wales, Australia

Crown Sydney is a skyscraper in Barangaroo, New South Wales, Australia. Designed by WilkinsonEyre, it stands at a height of 271.3 m (890 ft) with 75 floors, making it the tallest building in Sydney and 4th tallest in Australia. It was developed by Crown Resorts, primarily comprising a hotel and residential apartments, while a casino and other hospitality venues make up the rest of its floorspace. Construction began in October 2016, and the building was topped out in March 2020. It was inaugurated to the public in December 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barangaroo ferry wharf</span> Sydney ferries wharf

Barangaroo ferry wharf is a ferry wharf located on the eastern side of Darling Harbour, in Sydney, Australia. The wharf is the major public transport link of the Barangaroo precinct, situated west of the Sydney central business district. The complex consists two wharves, with provision for a third wharf in the future. It is serviced by Sydney Ferries' F3 Paramatta River and F4 Pyrmont Bay services. It opened on 26 June 2017.

The United Patriots Front (UPF) was an Australian far-right extremist group that opposed immigration, multiculturalism and the religion of Islam. Formed in 2015, the group has been largely dormant since their Facebook page was deleted following the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Pollard Sampson</span> Australian architect

Thomas Pollard Sampson was a Tasmanian-born Australian architect active in New South Wales during the first forty years of the 20th century. His work encompassed the styles of the Federation Arts and Crafts and Bungalow through to the Inter-War Styles. In 1912 he designed an octagonal roofed stadium at Rushcutters Bay that seated up to 12,000 spectators. At the time, the Sydney Stadium was said to be "the largest roofed-in structure in the world." In the 1920s and 1930s, as a golfer and member of Concord Golf Club and Pennant Hills Golf Club, he designed the clubhouses at both courses. The buildings of both these well known Sydney clubs are still in use in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Pavlou</span> Australian activist

Drew Pavlou is an Australian political activist best known for his criticism of the Chinese government and Chinese Communist Party, and their influence within Australia. Pavlou is also known for organising protests on-campus in support of the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, and for later protest activity against the Chinese government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Sewell (neo-Nazi)</span> Australian neo-Nazi and convicted criminal

Thomas Sewell is a New Zealand-born Australian neo-Nazi and convicted criminal. He is the leader of the National Socialist Network, the European Australian Movement and founder of the Lads Society. The groups led by Sewell focus on promoting White supremacy and far-right activism in Australia. He is known for associating with other prominent neo-Nazis and for controversial public stunts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 protests in Australia</span> Protests against restrictions introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia

Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have occurred around the world. There have been several protests against lockdowns and other restrictions introduced by the Commonwealth and state governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia since 2020. Some joining protests have also been against vaccinations, while others have also subscribed to various conspiracy theories or misinformation about COVID-19. Protests have been held in several state capitals, with most occurring in including Sydney and Melbourne. While some protests were peaceful, others ended in clashes between protesters and police. Australian police have issued fines against protesters for breaching lockdown restrictions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Violet CoCo</span> Australian climate activist

Deanna Maree "Violet" Coco, usually known as Violet CoCo, is an Australian climate activist who was briefly jailed on remand for blocking the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2022. She successfully appealed her 15-month jail sentence, with the convictions remaining, in March 2023, after the judge found that her conviction was based on false information from the police about an ambulance being blocked by her protest. She was instead put on a 12 month conditional release order.

References

  1. Elliott, Tim (1 December 2017). "'Sandwich-board activist' Danny Lim: 'It's important to get people thinking'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  2. "STRATHFIELD MUNICIPAL COUNCIL". Electoral Commission NSW. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  3. Vollmer, Tim (4 January 2009). "Councillor on a Lim". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  4. "Senate: First preferences by candidate". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  5. "Legislative Council - State Election 2019". vtr.elections.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  6. "Danny Lim". IMDb. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  7. "Sticky Fingers Announce New Album, 'Lekkerboy'". Rolling Stone Australia. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  8. "Heartbreak High Review: Finally, We Have A Show Actually Made For Us". Junkee. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  9. Bond, Nick (22 May 2024). "Aussie celebs make unrecognisable cameos in new Mad Max film Furiosa". News.com.au. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  10. Barwell, David (29 August 2017). "Lim wins appeal over Abbott 'c-bomb'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  11. Lawrence, Vannessa (24 August 2015). "GoFundMe Campaign Covers $500 Fine Activist Danny Lim Copped For Abbott C-Bomb". Pedestrian TV. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  12. "Court Rules It's OK to Refer to Tony Abbott as a C*#t". NSW Courts. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  13. Webb, Tiger (5 September 2017). "When it's against the law to swear". ABC News. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  14. "Serial Sydney protester Danny Lim arrested for offensive behaviour". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 11 January 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  15. Keoghan, Sarah (13 January 2019). "Sandwich-board activist Danny Lim to take legal action against police". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  16. Zhang, Annie (13 January 2019). ""We love you, Danny": Hundreds gather to protest Danny Lim's violent arrest". Honi Soit. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  17. Danny Lim's 'CVN'T' sign not offensive, court rules Sydney Morning Herald 30 August 2019
  18. "Serial protester Danny Lim in hospital after police 'discontinued' arrest in Sydney CBD". the Guardian. 22 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  19. "Well-known Sydney protester released from hospital after police arrest". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  20. "'Why you pick on Danny?': Sydney icon Danny Lim taken to hospital". news.com.au.
  21. Cooper, Justin (24 September 2023). "Beloved activist Danny Lim attacked while campaigning for Indigenous Voice Referendum". City Hub Sydney. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  22. "Sydney activist Danny Lim 'attacked while campaigning for Yes vote'". www.9news.com.au. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  23. "Danny Lim says attack left him 'shocked, scared'". The Age. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.