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Perth Now
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Protesters defiant as bridge battle looms
Organisers of a pro-Palestine march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge are defiant as threats of court action loom, with civil society groups writing to the Premier to support the rally. The Palestine Action Group filed a Form 1 with NSW Police last week, seeking to march across the bridge on Sunday in protest of mass starvation in Gaza. Police are expected to seek to block the protest at the Supreme Court in Sydney on Thursday following staunch pushback from NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns. He vowed not to allow the march go ahead at any point, claiming that Sydney would 'descend into chaos' and it was a logistical 'Everest'. Organisers said they received a summons at 4.30pm on Wednesday from NSW Police to attend court, though as of Thursday morning no time had been set for the hearing. Organisers have remained defiant despite court threats. NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone Credit: News Corp Australia It comes after 55 union and civil society groups signed a letter to the Premier on Thursday, urging him to 'facilitate the exercise of the democratic right of protest'. 'Seeking to shut down this rally would be a serious departure from the NSW State and Police's responsibility to uphold the democratic right of protest,' the letter said. 'We urge your government to facilitate the exercise of democratic freedoms in collaboration with community groups and support the holding of this protest.' Organisers and the signees have repeatedly cited previous shutdowns of the bridge, including for the filming of a movie and the World Pride march in 2023. Human Rights Watch, the Redfern Legal Centre, the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, and Asylum Seeker Centre are among the groups to sign the letter. Activists say the protest, which was expected to be attended by tens of thousands of people, comes at an urgent time as deliberate mass starvation grips Gaza. Israel has become increasingly isolated over its nearly two-year campaign following Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack. On Thursday, Canada joined France and the UK in recognising a Palestinian state in a retaliatory move over the aid situation in Gaza. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has in recent days ramped up his criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza but fallen short of committing to recognising Palestinian statehood. Protesters have rallied across Australia's major cities near weekly since Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip. Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna on Tuesday said police would be lodging an application with the Supreme Court to deem the bridge protest unlawful. Premier Chris Minns warned that Sydney would 'descend into chaos' if the march went ahead. NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia In NSW, police can support a Form 1 application for a protest, which affords protesters protection from anti-assembly laws, or oppose it in court. Mr McKenna said the decision to oppose the protest was made independently of Mr Minns, citing risks that emergency services may be blocked. Mr Minns has faced dissent from within his own party over his staunch opposition to the protest, which is backed by the Greens and some independents. Labor MLC Stephen Lawrence said in a statement he was 'concerned the Premier has, in effect, made a purported decision himself to try and prevent this protest'. 'This will taint proper consideration of the matter by police, and that violence may ensue as a consequence,' he said on Tuesday night. A second Labor MP, Anthony D'Adam, also accused Mr Minns of being 'more concerned about traffic flow than the plight of starving children in Gaza'.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Pro-Palestine demonstration across Sydney Harbour Bridge to be blocked
NSW Premier Chris Minns says his government will not support pro-Palestinian protesters crossing the Harbour Bridge on Sunday, saying he 'cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos' and police would work with organisers to find an alternative route. Palestine Action Group applied to NSW Police to march over what it described as 'Australia's most iconic symbol' on Sunday afternoon as part of a demonstration against starvation in Gaza. In a statement on Monday, Minns said his government would not support a 'protest of this scale' taking place on the Harbour Bridge with only one week's notice. 'The bridge is one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in our city – used every day by thousands of people. Unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns,' he said. 'We cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos. NSW Police are in discussions with organisers about other routes they can take and are working to ensure community safety is upheld.' PAG spokesperson Josh Lees said: 'The premier warns of chaos, but there is nothing chaotic about people marching for peace, to stop mass starvation. We call on the NSW authorities to work with us to plan this event and stand on the right side of history. 'If the premier says we need more time to plan such an event, then would he agree to support the March for Humanity a week later?' A spokeswoman for NSW Police said the Form 1 application had been received by Sydney City Police Area Command and officers were consulting the relevant stakeholders.
The Age
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
Pro-Palestine demonstration across Sydney Harbour Bridge to be blocked
NSW Premier Chris Minns says his government will not support pro-Palestinian protesters crossing the Harbour Bridge on Sunday, saying he 'cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos' and police would work with organisers to find an alternative route. Palestine Action Group applied to NSW Police to march over what it described as 'Australia's most iconic symbol' on Sunday afternoon as part of a demonstration against starvation in Gaza. In a statement on Monday, Minns said his government would not support a 'protest of this scale' taking place on the Harbour Bridge with only one week's notice. 'The bridge is one of the most critical pieces of infrastructure in our city – used every day by thousands of people. Unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns,' he said. 'We cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos. NSW Police are in discussions with organisers about other routes they can take and are working to ensure community safety is upheld.' PAG spokesperson Josh Lees said: 'The premier warns of chaos, but there is nothing chaotic about people marching for peace, to stop mass starvation. We call on the NSW authorities to work with us to plan this event and stand on the right side of history. 'If the premier says we need more time to plan such an event, then would he agree to support the March for Humanity a week later?' A spokeswoman for NSW Police said the Form 1 application had been received by Sydney City Police Area Command and officers were consulting the relevant stakeholders.
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Pro-Palestine March for Humanity could shut down the Sydney Harbour Bridge to send 'powerful' message to the world
Pro-Palestinian protestors are set to march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on August 3 to send a ''powerful'' message to the world amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The Palestine Action Group Sydney said in a statement on Sunday that it has informed NSW Police of its intention to hold a 'March for Humanity' across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday to "save Gaza". "We call on everyone, every individual and every organisation, who cannot bear to do nothing in the face of this atrocity, to join with us," the statement reads. "As Australia's most iconic symbol, a mass march across the Harbour Bridge will send a powerful message to the world, to Gaza, to Israel, and to our own Government, that we are determined to stand up for humanity." The statement drew comparisons to the 2023 WorldPride March event, which closed the Harbour Bridge so 50,000 people - including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese - could march across. Palestine Action Group Sydney said the bridge "can certainly be closed to stop a genocide". "That same year (2023) saw the bridge closed for several hours to shoot a scene for a Ryan Gosling film. It can certainly be closed to stop a genocide," it wrote. The group further called on the NSW Government to facilitate the March for Humanity. The protest due to take place this coming weekend could set the stage for confrontations with police. Major traffic disruptions may also be on the cards if roads are closed for protestors to march across the bridge. The Palestine Action Group Sydney said it lodged a Form 1 notifying NSW Police of its intentions. While NSW protestors do not require formal approval from police to hold a legal rally after the filing of a Form 1, police can oppose it through the court system. The group said protesters planned on meeting at Lang Park, near Wynyard station, at 1pm before marching to the bridge. "We appeal to organisations and high profile individuals to please sign on and endorse this March for Humanity," the statement continues. "Let's do this! "Save Gaza! Free Palestine!"
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Pro-Palestine protesters plan first-ever march across Sydney Harbour Bridge
Pro-Palestine protesters will march across Sydney Harbour Bridge for the first time in nearly two years of rallies, setting the stage for a potential confrontation with police. In a statement, the Palestine Action Group said on Sunday it had filed a Form 1 notifying NSW Police of the 'March for Humanity' set to take place at 1pm on August 3. The group called on NSW authorities to 'facilitate' the march, which is in response to the 'extraordinary situation' in Gaza, including mass civilian starvation. 'As Australia's most iconic symbol, a mass march across the Harbour Bridge will send a powerful message to the world,' the Palestine Action Group said. That message, the group said, would be to 'Gaza, to Israel, and to our own government, that we are determined to stand up for humanity'. Camera Icon Pro-Palestine protestors have rallied almost weekly since October 7, 2023. NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone Credit: News Corp Australia The protest is likely to face stiff opposition, with then-NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb previously applying to the Supreme Court to stop a pro-Palestine event. The vigil, held on the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks, was ultimately given the green light after a court hearing and 11th-hour discussions with protesters. In NSW, protesters do not need formal approval from police to hold a legal rally following the filing of a Form 1 – but police can oppose it through the court system. The Harbour Bridge is a major thoroughfare in Sydney, but has been closed several times in recent years, including for the filming of the movie Fall Guy. The bridge was also shuttered in 2023 for a World Pride Month march attended by Anthony Albanese. Camera Icon Sydney Harbour Bridge has been the site of several protests. NewsWire / Damian Shaw Credit: News Corp Australia In 2000, the bridge was the site of the Walk For Reconciliation, a rally showing support for Indigenous and non-Indigenous reconciliation attended by 250,000 people. 'It can certainly be closed to stop a genocide,'organisers said. The Palestine Action Group said protesters planned on meeting at Lang Park, near Wynyard station, at 1pm before marching to the bridge. The event marks almost two years of protests following Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel and the subsequent war on Gaza. Last week, the Prime Minister accused Israel of 'clearly' breaching international law, but fell short of joining ally France in recognising a Palestinian state. NSW Police has been contacted for comment.
