Why banning future bridge protests could be risky for NSW Premier Chris Minns

Australia Broadcast Center

3 hours ago

When a judge authorised Sunday's massive pro-Palestinian demonstration on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the premier may have breathed a partial sigh of relief.
Publicly, he says he doesn't regret his vocal opposition to the protest, declaring that it's not "open season" for demonstrations on the bridge.
However, having seen the enormous crowds that marched on Sunday, he must have quietly contemplated the alternative scenario.
Had the Supreme Court sided with police it's likely that a significant number of protesters would have marched anyway.
The premier himself has acknowledged a "huge groundswell" of concern about the suffering of civilians in Gaza, and protest organisers believe many participants would have been undeterred.
That could have led to ugly scenes, with the potential for mass arrests or injuries to both protesters and police.
And with a crowd that big, police may have still been forced to close the bridge on public safety grounds.
That would have undermined their authority — and that of the government.
So, the court's authorisation has saved the government that particular headache.
However, in doing so, it may have created an even bigger dilemma for Chris Minns.
The premier is concerned the court may have set a precedent, making it even more difficult to oppose future protests on the bridge.
The road he chooses in response is littered with potholes.
While the Palestine Action Group has promised another major protest on August 24, spokesperson Josh Lees says there are no plans to demonstrate on the harbour bridge any time soon.
Without another protest application being tested in court, it remains unclear whether Saturday's ruling will pave the way for a future demonstration.
However, to remove all doubt, the opposition is calling on the government to consider legislation to stop the bridge being used for a future protest.
While the premier says he has no desire to rush legislation, he's not ruling it out either.
It's a risky strategy.
Legislation would almost certainly face a legal challenge.
It could also be ignored by defiant protesters, putting them on a collision course with police, who have a tough enough job as it is.
Such a move could also cause major disquiet amongst Labor MPs, some of whom are already angry about existing laws restricting protests.
When the premier faces caucus on Tuesday morning, he'll do so knowing several of his colleagues marched on Sunday.
Two of his ministers, Penny Sharpe and Jihad Dib joined the protest.
MPs Julia Finn, Lynda Voltz, Cameron Murphy, Stephen Lawrence, Bob Nanva and Anthony D'Adam were amongst those marching too.
Last year, the premier warned his MPs who spoke out on Gaza to either focus on state issues or "run for federal parliament".
He's unlikely to be as dismissive when caucus meets today.
Mr Minns sensed the community's horror in the wake of Hamas' terrorist attacks on October 7.
But having seen the enormity of Sunday's protest, he says he also understands the depth of concern surrounding the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
While he says he's "repeatedly" expressed those concerns, his language on Monday was noticeably stronger.
While he said he was "terrified and appalled" by Hamas, he spoke of the "IDF's [Israel Defense Forces] action in bombing hospitals," describing it as a "massive concern as a human being."
While Israel has repeatedly argued that Hamas operates beneath hospitals, the images of civilian casualties are difficult to ignore.
He also said that stopping aid from entering Gaza had been "disastrous" for civilians there.
Israel's government has criticised the weekend's protest.
The country's foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar posted a photo of a demonstrator who appeared to be holding a photo of Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who has called for Israel's destruction.
However, the premier said most protesters went with the "right intentions".
Until now, the premier has shown a distinct lack of patience with pro-Palestinian demonstrations, particularly when they create cost and inconvenience.
Sunday's scenes suggest that any further attempts to block them could backfire, both in caucus and on the streets.