Dr Brown says he will continue to fight the laws in the High Court regardless, and the government will use the Solicitor General to fight the case.

Premier Will Hodgman said the protest charges were dropped on a technical matter, and he had no plans to re-think the legislation.

“We make no apology for wanting to make sure Tasmanians and Tasmanian businesses are able to operate free of unlawful protest activity,” he said.

“We stand by our laws, because they are strong in their intent.”

Tasmania Police announced on Tuesday it would abandoned charges against the 71-year-old former Australian Greens leader.

Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine said the decision to drop the charges was reached after police received information from the Director of Public Prosecutions that suggested Dr Brown was located on business premises, rather than a business access area. 

“In this case the DPP observed that it was difficult for police officers to determine whether a person was in a business access area or on business premises,” Mr Hine said.

“As a result of the advice, four other prosecutions relating to the Lapoinya protests will be reviewed.”

Dr Brown said the cases against the other protestors should also be dropped along with the “shoddy legislation”. 

“It has no place in our democracy,” he said.

“The dropping of the charges does not alter the challenge I’m proceeding with in the High Court against this legislation.”

Dr Brown said he “felt sorry” for police, because the legislation didn’t give them clear direction about how it worked in practice. 

Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor said the party planned to bring on legislation repealing the laws for debate in Parliament next Wednesday.

“In retrospect, the laws will be seen as a rookie mistake by the Hodgman government, who aren't used to drafting legislation after 16 years in opposition,” she said.

“These laws politicise the police, they're heavy handed and overly complex. A terrible trifecta.”

So far, no one has been successfully prosecuted using the laws.