Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke warns ‘no one is above the law' after former Greens candidate injured at protest
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has warned that "no one is above the law" following the serious injury of former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas.
Ms Thomas, who ran against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the seat of Grayndler at the election, was injured at an unauthorised protest in Sydney on Friday.
She has undergone surgery amid fears she could lose vision in on eye after clashing with NSW Police.
Mr Burke told Sky News Sunday Agenda that the protest had not been organised in consultation with local authorities and said demonstrators did not obey police orders.
'When people were asked to move on by the police they should have followed the police direction. Apparently they didn't,' he said.
'The issue of the injury will be dealt with by the police review but for anyone wanting to have a protest, you know, no one's above the law.'
Video footage from the rally shows scuffles between demonstrators and officers, with police later confirming Ms Thomas was injured while being arrested.
The protest was organised in opposition to a company called SEC Plating which the Greens have accused of being involved in the supply chain that makes Israeli fighter jets.
Mr Burke expressed sympathy for Ms Thomas's condition but argued that protesters need to adhere to police orders.
'Obviously the New South Wales police say that they're conducting a review of the circumstances to work out exactly what happened,' he said.
'I'm told there's some video footage but it's hard to identify exactly what's happened … Obviously you never want anyone to have serious injuries in any situation.'
Ms Thomas has not been charged.
'Police issued a move on direction to a group of about 60 protesters, who allegedly attempted to block pedestrian access to the business,' NSW Police said in a statement.
'A 26-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were subsequently arrested after allegedly failing to comply with the direction.
'During the 35-year-old woman's arrest, she sustained facial injuries and was taken to Bankstown Hospital for treatment.'
Greens politicians have since condemned the police response and called for inquiry into whether the actions were 'excessive'.
"Anyone watching knows it's wrong that police are violently arresting those calling for an end to genocide,' federal Greens Senator David Shoebridge said.
'The arrest of multiple peaceful protesters who are calling for Australia to stop arming a genocide shows how far we've moved from protecting peaceful dissent.'
'The actions of the NSW Police can only be described as brutal and excessive,' NSW Greens MP and justice spokesperson Sue Higginson said.
'I have spoken with the people in police custody this morning, in my legal capacity, and they cannot believe what they saw happen to the individual.'
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