‘Billboard Chris’ wins case against Brisbane City Council

Chris Elston, the Canadian activist higher often called “Billboard Chris” has won a legal victory against Brisbane City Council, in Australia.

Elston, who often campaigns wearing a billboard, was fined $806 in March when a council employee accused him of obstructing foot traffic in Queen Street Mall. The employee called the police with the intention to remove Elston.

Writing on X, Elston said, “I used to be told I might go to jail if I refused to maneuver, but I knew the council employee was lying … I hadn’t violated any of their bylaws.”

At the time of the incident Elston was wearing his trademark billboard, this particular one reading, “Children Cannot Consent to Puberty Blockers”. According to Elston, the police suggested that the council had singled him out for special treatment because of its “ignorant bias” about his message.

Elston was not arrested but was still slapped with the positive. With the support of the Human Rights Law Alliance, Elston challenged the positive, submitting video evidence of the encounter.

This week Elston was informed that the positive had been withdrawn and no further motion can be taken. A letter from the council said, “After reviewing the file and giving consideration to the facts and circumstances surrounding this matter, I want to advise that Infringement Notice 8000030612317 has been withdrawn.

“There isn’t any further motion required by you and this matter is now closed.”

Elston welcomed the choice as “tremendous news”, adding that he wouldn’t be deterred from his continued public activism.

Elston has been involved in various public spats centred on the trans issue. In February Elson was critical on X about Teddy Cook, a trans individual who was appointed to the World Health Organization as an “expert” on trans issues.

Australia’s E-Safety Commissioner demanded that X remove the post. X refused to achieve this, nonetheless it did geo-block it, thus stopping it from being viewed in Australia.

Earlier this month, Elston was arrested in Brussels, Belgium, alongside Lois McLatchie Miller of the Alliance Defending Freedom, for carrying billboards criticising puberty blockers for youths. They were detained by Belgian police and later released at no cost.