Coalition warned outlawing climate boycotts could breach constitution

Christian Porter accuses Market Forces of trying to impose its political will on companies across Australia

Academics have warned that changes to competition law to shut down environmental boycotts could breach the constitution, as some Coalition MPs are expressing nervousness privately about Scott Morrison signalling a controversial crackdown last week.

The attorney-general Christian Porter has nominated activist group Market Forces as the intended target of the Coalition's efforts to temper activism, flagged by Morrison during a combative speech in Brisbane last Friday, but some government MPs are confused about precisely what is being proposed, and are concerned about the potentially negative implications for freedom of expression.