Wikipedia

Danny Lim (activist)

This article is about the Sydney activist. For the Filipino general, see Danilo Lim. For the Malaysian journalist, see Danny Lim.

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

Danny Lim
Councillor of the Municipality of Strathfield
In office
13 September 2008 – 8 September 2012
Personal details
Born1944 (age 79–80)
Japanese Malaya
Political partyIndependent
Residence(s)Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
OccupationFormer councillor
and electrician

Early life

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

Political career

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Local government (2008–2012)

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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

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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

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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]

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Offensive language court case

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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

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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

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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

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

Lim taken to hospital September 2023

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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]

References

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  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.
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