Palestine Action protest to go ahead on Sydney's Harbour Bridge
The bridge will be closed for at least five hours, from 11:30 am on Sunday, with reopening expected at 4 pm.
Additional police will be mobilised as up to 50,000 people are expected to join the march.
Motorists are being warned of significant disruptions on the roads and public transport.
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West Australian
17 minutes ago
- West Australian
Opposition leader slams pro-Palestine protesters for ‘throwing Sydney into chaos', diverting vital resources
Opposition leader Sussan Ley has slammed pro-Palestine protesters who shut down Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday for 'throwing the city into chaos' and diverting vital resources. The bridge closed down after the Supreme Court gave the protest - which attracted more than 90,000 people, the greenlight despite opposition from NSW Premier Chris Minns and the State's police force. 'It's not reasonable that we have protests that shut down a major arterial road,' she said. 'It's not reasonable that we throw Sydney into chaos for hours and hours, and I just wonder about the people who genuinely needed emergency services and had to wait or couldn't actually get them. 'I want to say a big thank you to our police and emergency services - over a thousand were diverted at the last minute. 'We can't continue to have these protests that shut down such an important area of a major city.' Premier Minns has since declared to examine the court ruling — raising concerns it could set a dangerous precedent for protests in NSW. 'We're examining the judgment to determine whether this is a precedent or there are circumstances in relation to the judgment that specifically make it applicable to just that form 1 application,' he told reporters on Monday. NSW Acting Police Assistant Commissioner Adam Johnson told breakfast TV on Monday the force had feared a 'crowd crush' and believed it had become close during a bottleneck on the day. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, however, was less critical of protesters — saying it was a 'peaceful' rally and natural for a democracy. 'In a democracy, it is a good thing people peacefully express their views. Yesterday's march was peaceful and an opportunity for people to express their concern about what is happening in Gaza,' he said. 'It is not surprising so many Australians have been affected… (and) want to show their concern.' While the Labor leader was supportive of the movement, former Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon accused the protesters of acting like they have a 'monopoly on compassion' and called for greater acknowledgement of the role Hamas has played in the war. The ex-Defence Minister acknowledged that people across Gaza were suffering from starvation but questioned what messages pro-Palestine protesters were sending to the terrorist organisation. 'How many people walking across the bridge yesterday could name the leaders of Hamas? There seemed to be a lot of experts on the Harbour Bridge. But how much do they know? There's plenty of blame to go around,' Mr Fitzgibbon told Sky on Monday. He suggested that protesters 'seem to be marching for Hamas' and 'seem to want to persuade us they have the monopoly on compassion'. 'They do not,' he added. Richard Marles said the sheer numbers which attended made 'a very powerful statement' that Australians are 'rightly appalled' by the Gaza war. The Defence Minister on Monday said Australia would continue to call for a ceasefire and thanked protesters and organisers for being 'peaceful'. 'I think Australians are rightly appalled by the tragedy that they see unfolding on their screens, playing out in Gaza. It's a tragedy that we all want to see stop. It's why the government has been calling for a ceasefire for a very long period of time now,' he said. Sydney Major Clover Moore said closing a bridge was a small price to pay compared to the pain and suffering in Gaza. 'Compare that with what's happening in Gaza where all those people have lost their homes and they're either starving or getting killed when they're going to get food. What's happening in Gaza must stop and we stand with them and support them,' she said.
Perth Now
17 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Group's ‘deplorable' Palestine protest act
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has slammed the 'deplorable' actions of a group of protesters who burned the Australian flag during a pro-Palestine rally at the weekend. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Melbourne in support of Palestine, calling for an end to the humanitarian crisis that has gripped the Gaza Strip for months. A planned crossing of the King St Bridge was stopped by police in riot gear – leading to confrontations and protesters splintering off and heading back to their starting point at the State Library. Extraordinary scenes emerged on the Spencer St bridge after some protesters stopped on the side of the road. Wild scenes of pro-Palestine protesters burning the Australian flag along Spencer St in Melbourne have been condemned by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. 9 News Credit: Channel 9 The group also spray-painted 'Abolish Australia' on the road and broke out into chants of 'death, death, death to the IDF'. NewsWire / Josie Hayden Credit: News Corp Australia Photos and footage at the scene capture the masked demonstrators burning the Australian flag and spray-painting 'Abolish Australia' on the road. Some broke out into chants of 'Death, death, death to the IDF' – referring to the Israeli Defence Force. Speaking on the Today show on Monday, Ms Allan condemned the incident. 'It's deplorable, it's a deplorable action' she told the program. Ms Allan reiterated the rest of the protest was 'peaceful' and there were no arrests. The massive group were blocked from crossing the King St Bridge. NewsWire / Josie Hayden Credit: News Corp Australia She said it was 'completely cowardly' to turn up to protests while masked, as it could 'only signal the intent'. Footage from Channel 9 captured the group disrupting traffic – one furious woman on her way to hospital getting out of her car to give them a spray. It is not clear whether the group are associated with the Palestine Action Group, which organised the protest along the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The group has been contacted for comment. Australia has no law that specifically criminalises the burning of the national flag. In NSW, historic scenes emerged on Sunday as almost 100,000 demonstrators peacefully marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge after attempts to block the protest failed in court. Protesters crossed the bridge about 2pm, chanting 'free, free Palestine' and waving placards. Ms Allan said the majority of the protest was 'peaceful'. NewsWire / Josie Hayden Credit: News Corp Australia NSW Police were on scene to keep the peace after their attempt to stop the demonstration – on the grounds it would endanger public safety – failed. At 3pm, they issued an urgent request for protesters to stop the march on safety fears, citing a possible 'crush' at the northern end of the bridge. 'Participants have been asked to stop proceedings across the bridge to avoid a crowd crush at the northern end of the harbour bridge,' the police said in what they called a 'protest safety intervention'. 'Once the procession has come to a halt, protesters will be asked to turn around and walk back toward Wynyard to avoid a risk of injury due to the huge number of people taking part. 'Police believe the safest route back is to walk back across the bridge given the huge numbers to avoid overwhelming the public transport system and a potential crowd crush scenario.' The rally otherwise proceeded peacefully and without any significant incidents. Famous faces joined in the protest, including former NSW Labor titan and former foreign affairs minister Bob Carr, soccer icon Craig Foster and Julian Assange. Boxer Anthony Mundine and journalist Antoinette Lattouf were also spotted in the crowd.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Premier holds firm on safety after Gaza bridge protest
A state premier who opposed the tens of thousands of people who wanted to march across a major city bridge to protest the suffering in Gaza has defended his stance on the grounds of public safety. More than 100,000 people braved the rain for a pro-Palestine protest at the Sydney Harbour Bridge and similar rallies in Melbourne and Adelaide. Dubbed the March for Humanity by organisers, it aimed to highlight what the United Nations has described as the "worst-case scenario of famine" and the 22-month-long Israeli offensive on the blockaded enclave. High-profile participants at the Sydney protest included Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, former Socceroos captain Craig Foster and former foreign affairs minister and NSW premier Bob Carr. But NSW Premier Chris Minns is adamant he did not misread community sentiment in trying to stop the mass demonstration from going ahead. "Ultimately, my job is to be on the side of public safety and ensuring people live, work and protest and enjoy a city as big as Sydney," he told reporters on Monday. "We can't just knock out the bridge every weekend. There can be a demonstration every weekend ... no one should assume it's open season on the bridge." Several Minns government MPs and the Sydney lord mayor took part in the march and Mr Minns struck a more conciliatory tone, praising demonstrators for the peaceful nature of the rally. He also highlighted that the plight of Palestinian civilians was a massive concern to him. Federal Labor MP Ed Husic, who has become more outspoken on Israel's military campaign in Gaza since his dumping from cabinet after the federal election, said voters had sent a strong message to politicians "Just as some underestimated the amount of people that would turn up on the bridge, I think Australian politics has underestimated how strongly Australians feel about this issue," he told ABC radio on Monday. "This is a moment - a wake-up call - for Australian politics. "There was a lot of middle Australia there and that's something that can't be ignored." NSW Police praised the behaviour of the protesters but had to force them to turn around about an hour into the march on the bridge because of the "risk of injury, due to the huge number of people taking part". Police said no arrests were made but described the fluid mobilisation of tens of thousands of people as "perilous." Thousands of demonstrators were directed via text messages to turn back to the CBD and later wait in place - the first recorded use of the city's emergency warning system, a police spokeswoman said. Federal Liberal Senator David Sharma, who once served as Australia's ambassador to Israel, said the protests had made him "uncomfortable". "I don't like the idea of a major piece of infrastructure being disrupted for people to campaign about something going on overseas where Australians have very little influence," he told Sky News. Israel's military campaign began after militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking more than 251 hostages. The ensuing retaliatory bombardment and blockade of Gaza have killed more than 60,000 people, according to the health authorities. Gaza's population of 2.1 million people is projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity, including one million people who face emergency levels, according to the United Nations. The federal government on Monday announced an additional $20 million to support aid organisations in delivering food, medical supplies and other lifesaving support in Gaza. A state premier who opposed the tens of thousands of people who wanted to march across a major city bridge to protest the suffering in Gaza has defended his stance on the grounds of public safety. More than 100,000 people braved the rain for a pro-Palestine protest at the Sydney Harbour Bridge and similar rallies in Melbourne and Adelaide. Dubbed the March for Humanity by organisers, it aimed to highlight what the United Nations has described as the "worst-case scenario of famine" and the 22-month-long Israeli offensive on the blockaded enclave. High-profile participants at the Sydney protest included Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, former Socceroos captain Craig Foster and former foreign affairs minister and NSW premier Bob Carr. But NSW Premier Chris Minns is adamant he did not misread community sentiment in trying to stop the mass demonstration from going ahead. "Ultimately, my job is to be on the side of public safety and ensuring people live, work and protest and enjoy a city as big as Sydney," he told reporters on Monday. "We can't just knock out the bridge every weekend. There can be a demonstration every weekend ... no one should assume it's open season on the bridge." Several Minns government MPs and the Sydney lord mayor took part in the march and Mr Minns struck a more conciliatory tone, praising demonstrators for the peaceful nature of the rally. He also highlighted that the plight of Palestinian civilians was a massive concern to him. Federal Labor MP Ed Husic, who has become more outspoken on Israel's military campaign in Gaza since his dumping from cabinet after the federal election, said voters had sent a strong message to politicians "Just as some underestimated the amount of people that would turn up on the bridge, I think Australian politics has underestimated how strongly Australians feel about this issue," he told ABC radio on Monday. "This is a moment - a wake-up call - for Australian politics. "There was a lot of middle Australia there and that's something that can't be ignored." NSW Police praised the behaviour of the protesters but had to force them to turn around about an hour into the march on the bridge because of the "risk of injury, due to the huge number of people taking part". Police said no arrests were made but described the fluid mobilisation of tens of thousands of people as "perilous." Thousands of demonstrators were directed via text messages to turn back to the CBD and later wait in place - the first recorded use of the city's emergency warning system, a police spokeswoman said. Federal Liberal Senator David Sharma, who once served as Australia's ambassador to Israel, said the protests had made him "uncomfortable". "I don't like the idea of a major piece of infrastructure being disrupted for people to campaign about something going on overseas where Australians have very little influence," he told Sky News. Israel's military campaign began after militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking more than 251 hostages. The ensuing retaliatory bombardment and blockade of Gaza have killed more than 60,000 people, according to the health authorities. Gaza's population of 2.1 million people is projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity, including one million people who face emergency levels, according to the United Nations. The federal government on Monday announced an additional $20 million to support aid organisations in delivering food, medical supplies and other lifesaving support in Gaza. A state premier who opposed the tens of thousands of people who wanted to march across a major city bridge to protest the suffering in Gaza has defended his stance on the grounds of public safety. More than 100,000 people braved the rain for a pro-Palestine protest at the Sydney Harbour Bridge and similar rallies in Melbourne and Adelaide. Dubbed the March for Humanity by organisers, it aimed to highlight what the United Nations has described as the "worst-case scenario of famine" and the 22-month-long Israeli offensive on the blockaded enclave. High-profile participants at the Sydney protest included Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, former Socceroos captain Craig Foster and former foreign affairs minister and NSW premier Bob Carr. But NSW Premier Chris Minns is adamant he did not misread community sentiment in trying to stop the mass demonstration from going ahead. "Ultimately, my job is to be on the side of public safety and ensuring people live, work and protest and enjoy a city as big as Sydney," he told reporters on Monday. "We can't just knock out the bridge every weekend. There can be a demonstration every weekend ... no one should assume it's open season on the bridge." Several Minns government MPs and the Sydney lord mayor took part in the march and Mr Minns struck a more conciliatory tone, praising demonstrators for the peaceful nature of the rally. He also highlighted that the plight of Palestinian civilians was a massive concern to him. Federal Labor MP Ed Husic, who has become more outspoken on Israel's military campaign in Gaza since his dumping from cabinet after the federal election, said voters had sent a strong message to politicians "Just as some underestimated the amount of people that would turn up on the bridge, I think Australian politics has underestimated how strongly Australians feel about this issue," he told ABC radio on Monday. "This is a moment - a wake-up call - for Australian politics. "There was a lot of middle Australia there and that's something that can't be ignored." NSW Police praised the behaviour of the protesters but had to force them to turn around about an hour into the march on the bridge because of the "risk of injury, due to the huge number of people taking part". Police said no arrests were made but described the fluid mobilisation of tens of thousands of people as "perilous." Thousands of demonstrators were directed via text messages to turn back to the CBD and later wait in place - the first recorded use of the city's emergency warning system, a police spokeswoman said. Federal Liberal Senator David Sharma, who once served as Australia's ambassador to Israel, said the protests had made him "uncomfortable". "I don't like the idea of a major piece of infrastructure being disrupted for people to campaign about something going on overseas where Australians have very little influence," he told Sky News. Israel's military campaign began after militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking more than 251 hostages. The ensuing retaliatory bombardment and blockade of Gaza have killed more than 60,000 people, according to the health authorities. Gaza's population of 2.1 million people is projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity, including one million people who face emergency levels, according to the United Nations. The federal government on Monday announced an additional $20 million to support aid organisations in delivering food, medical supplies and other lifesaving support in Gaza. A state premier who opposed the tens of thousands of people who wanted to march across a major city bridge to protest the suffering in Gaza has defended his stance on the grounds of public safety. More than 100,000 people braved the rain for a pro-Palestine protest at the Sydney Harbour Bridge and similar rallies in Melbourne and Adelaide. Dubbed the March for Humanity by organisers, it aimed to highlight what the United Nations has described as the "worst-case scenario of famine" and the 22-month-long Israeli offensive on the blockaded enclave. High-profile participants at the Sydney protest included Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, former Socceroos captain Craig Foster and former foreign affairs minister and NSW premier Bob Carr. But NSW Premier Chris Minns is adamant he did not misread community sentiment in trying to stop the mass demonstration from going ahead. "Ultimately, my job is to be on the side of public safety and ensuring people live, work and protest and enjoy a city as big as Sydney," he told reporters on Monday. "We can't just knock out the bridge every weekend. There can be a demonstration every weekend ... no one should assume it's open season on the bridge." Several Minns government MPs and the Sydney lord mayor took part in the march and Mr Minns struck a more conciliatory tone, praising demonstrators for the peaceful nature of the rally. He also highlighted that the plight of Palestinian civilians was a massive concern to him. Federal Labor MP Ed Husic, who has become more outspoken on Israel's military campaign in Gaza since his dumping from cabinet after the federal election, said voters had sent a strong message to politicians "Just as some underestimated the amount of people that would turn up on the bridge, I think Australian politics has underestimated how strongly Australians feel about this issue," he told ABC radio on Monday. "This is a moment - a wake-up call - for Australian politics. "There was a lot of middle Australia there and that's something that can't be ignored." NSW Police praised the behaviour of the protesters but had to force them to turn around about an hour into the march on the bridge because of the "risk of injury, due to the huge number of people taking part". Police said no arrests were made but described the fluid mobilisation of tens of thousands of people as "perilous." Thousands of demonstrators were directed via text messages to turn back to the CBD and later wait in place - the first recorded use of the city's emergency warning system, a police spokeswoman said. Federal Liberal Senator David Sharma, who once served as Australia's ambassador to Israel, said the protests had made him "uncomfortable". "I don't like the idea of a major piece of infrastructure being disrupted for people to campaign about something going on overseas where Australians have very little influence," he told Sky News. Israel's military campaign began after militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking more than 251 hostages. The ensuing retaliatory bombardment and blockade of Gaza have killed more than 60,000 people, according to the health authorities. Gaza's population of 2.1 million people is projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity, including one million people who face emergency levels, according to the United Nations. The federal government on Monday announced an additional $20 million to support aid organisations in delivering food, medical supplies and other lifesaving support in Gaza.
