Chris Elston, better known by his online moniker ‘Billboard Chris’, scored a big win this week when the Brisbane City Council dropped its fine against him for simply speaking the truth about gender ideology.

In March, Chris was threatened with arrest and fined $806 in Brisbane just days before his trial against Australia’s eSafety Commissioner began in Melbourne.

Chris was standing peacefully with his billboard, offering to have conversations with willing passersby about the harms of gender ideology and hormone or surgical treatments for children.

As seen in the videos on his social media, he was not bothering anyone or disturbing the peace.

He was forcibly moved on, and while he avoided arrest, the fine remained.

With the assistance of HRLA, Chris submitted his footage of the incident to the council and appealed the fine.

As a result, the fine has been withdrawn.

Chris acknowledged the help of HRLA in his announcement of the Council’s capitulation:

With the help of my excellent lawyers led by John Steenhof at the Human Rights Law Alliance, we appealed. I sent the Council all of my video footage leading up to the alleged infringement.

Today, I received this letter.

“After reviewing the file and giving consideration to the facts and circumstances surrounding this matter, I wish to advise that Infringement Notice 8000030612317 has been withdrawn.

“There is no further action required by you and this matter is now closed.

“Please note, any further infringements issued to you for similar offences will be reviewed on their own merits.”

It almost sounds like they expect me to come back. And they’re right. I’ll be back. Standing in the same spot.

Children Cannot Consent to Puberty Blockers!

While the news is welcome, the freedom of everyday Australians is in jeopardy when police, bureaucratic overreach, and the threat of court is used to intimidate those who speak the truth on controversial issues like gender ideology.

We remain concerned at the increase in two-tiered justice when it comes to policing free speech

HRLA is proud to have assisted Chris to have this unjust fine withdrawn, and continues to work with him on his case against the eSafety Commissioner after she censored his social media comments criticising the appointment of a transgender activist to a World Health Organisation panel.

Chris’s hearing before the Administrative Review Tribunal took place in March and we await the outcome.