Across the world celebrities - - and activists have called for a in the wake of new harsh laws that include the death penalty for gay sex.
But until today, these protests have not reached Australian shores.
On Saturday, a small group of protesters shouting "shame Sultan, shame" has rallied in front of Brisbane's Royal on the Park Hotel, which is reportedly owned by the government of the South-East Asian nation, for the first Boycott Brunei rally in Australia.
Protesters rallied outside of the Royal on the Park Hotel in Brisbane on Saturday. Source: AAP
The crowd of about 70 people was demonstrating against the sultanate's new sharia penal code, which punishes homosexuality, adultery and blasphemy with the death penalty.
"Large organisations like Amnesty and groups of people across the world are focusing in on Brunei, so we're part of that," Labor senator for Queensland Claire Moore told the rally.
The Royal on the Park Hotel. Source: Google Maps
Homosexuality has always been illegal in Brunei, but earlier this month strict new Islamic laws came into effect, making gay sex an offence punishable by stoning to death.
Boycott Brunei in Australia rally co-organiser Peter Hackney said they wanted to show that "there is no market for bigotry in Brisbane".
"It's [the hotel] a site of bigotry in Brisbane because it's owned by the Sultan of Brunei and we're just hoping that the pressure we can put on Brunei's commercial interests will force a back down from the from the Sultan," Mr Hackney told SBS News.
"On its own, it's not going to do anything but as part of a wider action around the world I think it will."
The hotel is reportedly owned by Sejahtera One (Australia) Pty Ltd, which has a single shareholder, the Brunei Investment Agency - a wealth fund managed on behalf of the government, The Australian reported.
Beyond boycotting the hotel, a petition released on Saturday is calling for the Australian government to take a leading role in influencing Brunei to reverse the laws through diplomatic pressure.
The demands, , include , the expulsion of Brunei's High Commissioner to Australia, the withdrawal of Australia's High Commissioner in Brunei and Brunei's suspension from the Commonwealth.
Prominent LGBTI+ activist and spokesperson for Just.Equal Rodney Croome told SBS News that he hoped enough signatures on the petition would force political leaders to consider the demands.
"It's not Australia's responsibility alone to take action against these new repressive laws in Brunei. I'd like to see governments across the region and across the world sending a strong message to Brunei that it's time to repeal these ridiculous laws," he said.
Scott Morrison and Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah alongside other world leaders during the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Source: AAP
"But Australia has a really important place here because we are the largest economy and one of the most important nations in our region and we need to be setting a standard for other nations to follow."
Mr Coome said he hopes to see a wave of protests kick off across the nation.
"It really is only through sustained pressure on the commercial side and the political side that this will work, like one little rally here, one rally there is nothing but if it's all together, that sort of sustained pressure it does have a chance of succeeding," Mr Hackney added.
The rally and petition come as Prime Minister Scott Morrison strongly condemned the laws in his first public comments on the matter.
"The government's view is clear: criminalisation of consensual same-sex relationships is unacceptable. We believe in equal human rights for LGBTI persons and an end to violence and discrimination against LGBTI across the region and globally," Mr Morrison said in a letter to Mr Croome.
"We are deeply disappointed that Brunei has proceeded with these measures."
Mr Croome welcomed the response but called for further action.
"My hope is that there will be continued condemnation of the repressive Brunei laws by the Australian Government, regardless of who wins the May 18 election," he said.
"If Brunei doesn't change course, the Australian Government should cease diplomatic ties with Brunei, cease using services owned by the Brunei Government and move to have it suspended from the Commonwealth."
Last week, Foreign Minister Marise Payne tweeted that the Australian government had raised concerns about the laws with the Brunei government, stating that they would "continue to advocate for human rights in the region and beyond".
"We absolutely oppose the death penalty and are committed to the rights of LGBTI people," the tweet read.
Late last month, the .
“Brunei Darussalam is a sovereign Islamic and fully independent country and, like all other independent countries, enforces its own rule of laws,” a statement read.
“Brunei Darussalam has always been practising a dual legal system, one that is based on the Syariah Law and the other on Common Law."
The Royal on the Park hotel and the Australian High Commission of Brunei Darussalam have been contacted for comment.
