Harbour Bridge march update court action
Australian Associated Press News Report/
A pro-Palestine march across a national landmark is “inevitable”, even though a court still has to rule on its legality, a state MP believes.
Aimed at shining a spotlight on starvation amongst the people of Gaza as a result of Israel’s offensive in the Strip, the march on the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday has been hyped by organisers as a “March for Humanity”.
Similar demonstrations are planned in Melbourne and Adelaide, and an online petition to allow the Sydney march has attracted more than 15,000 signatures.
Police can ask the court to deny permission to protest amid claims such events drain resources. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)
But NSW Police has taken court action to categorise it as unauthorised, which would allow officers to arrest people for blocking road traffic.
Despite this, five NSW Labor MPs are among a 15-strong group of politicians planning to join the march.
They have urged the government to facilitate a safe and orderly event on Sunday or “some other agreed date”.
Outspoken upper house government MP Stephen Lawrence went a step further, predicting people would march on Sunday even if the court rules against the event, due to Premier Chris Minns’ perceived interference in police negotiations with protesters.
“The circumstances of this protest are not ideal, but the event is now absolutely inevitable, largely because of the way it has been mishandled,” he said.
“When it is perceived (police) powers are the subject of direction from a political actor, their capacity to negotiate with protesters and resolve situations is undermined.”
Mr Minns, who has blamed demonstrators for draining police resources during nearly two years of weekly pro-Palestine rallies in the CBD, said he “cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos”.
Mr Lawrence, along with fellow MP Sarah Kaine, said the premier’s position ran counter to Labor Party values.
Organisers Palestine Action Group Sydney have vowed to rally regardless, without specifying where, ending a Facebook post with “whatever happens, see you on Sunday”.
Repeatedly asked if they would defy the court and protest at the harbour, spokeswoman Amal Naser said they would “cross that bridge at another time”.
NSW has a permit system that allows protesters to block public roads and infrastructure, but a court can revoke those immunities if police challenge the permit.
Lawyers argue this runs contrary to Australia’s civil rights obligations.
“As a party to the core United Nations human rights treaties, Australia has recognised that freedom of assembly is a fundamental human right and, in consequence, NSW must protect it,” Australian Lawyers for Human Rights vice president Kerry Weste said.
Meanwhile, Victoria’s new police commissioner Mike Bush has reiterated his state would not adopt a protest permit system.
That’s despite police being unsuccessful in having organisers of a pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne on Sunday alter their route.
The Free Palestine Coalition Naarm says it will protest in solidarity with Sydney and march through the city to the King Street Bridge.
Victoria Police say the protest will cause significant disruption to the community and impact emergency services.
“While we always respect the right for people to protest peacefully, we are clear that this should be done without impacting the broader community,” a police spokesperson said.
The number of Palestinians killed during the war in Gaza is now more than 60,000, according to local health authorities, while the United Nations says dozens of people have died in recent weeks due to starvation.
Israel’s near-two-year-long military campaign began after militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking more than 251 hostages.
