Latest news with #LEPRA
Perth Now
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Major update after Greens candidate injured
Police have dropped one of the charges against former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas after it was found officers should not have used a rare emergency power introduced after the 2005 Cronulla riots. Former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas was arrested and charged after a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney's southwest. Supplied Credit: Supplied NSW Police said the protest was not authorised and attempted to disperse the group. 'Five people have been arrested following an unauthorised protest in Sydney's west this morning,' a statement at the time read. 'About 5.35am Friday, officers attached to Campsie Police Area Command attended Lakemba Street, Belmore. Police issued a move-on direction to a group of about 60 protesters, who allegedly attempted to block pedestrian access to the business. '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.' Ms Thomas suffered a battered eye and said she may lose her vision. Supplied. Credit: Supplied Last week, Ms Thomas was charged with resisting arrest and refusing or failing to comply with a direction to disperse. Four others were also charged with a variety of offences. 'As police attempted to arrest the protesters who were not complying with the directions, a scuffle ensued between police and protesters,' a police statement read. Ms Thomas was additionally charged with a rarely used emergency anti-riot power under 6A of the Law Enforcement Powers and Responsibilities Act (LEPRA). The powers are in place to deal with 'large-scale public disorder', were introduced after the 2005 Cronulla riots and must be signed off by senior officers. She was seen with a swollen eye after the protest. Supplied Credit: Supplied On Monday afternoon, Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden confirmed police had dropped the charge after reviewing the incident. He said 'police will seek to withdraw the alternative charge' at the next court appearance. Following the incident last month, Ms Thomas said she may lose her vision permanently and blamed 'draconian anti-protest laws' brought in by the Minns government. Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden dropped one of the charges against the former Greens candidate. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia 'I don't want to get into too much detail about the traumatic events on Friday, but I'm five foot one, I weigh about 45kg, I was engaged in peaceful protest, and my interactions with NSW Police have left me potentially without vision in my right eye permanently,' she said in a clip shared by MP Sue Higginson. Ms Thomas challenged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the federal seat of Grayndler at the federal election earlier this year She is set to face Bankstown Local Court on August 12.
9 News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- 9 News
NSW Police drop anti-riot charge against injured protester Hannah Thomas
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here NSW Police will drop a charge against Greens candidate Hannah Thomas after a review found that officers should not have used rare emergency powers that were introduced after the 2005 Cronulla riots. The 35-year-old, who contested Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's seat of Grayndler at the federal election, was charged with resisting police and refusing or failing to comply with a direction to disperse. NSW Police have dropped a charge against Greens candidate Hannah Thomas. (Sue Higginson) The Sydney Morning Herald last week revealed the second charge had cited emergency anti-riot powers under part 6A of the Law Enforcement Powers and Responsibilities Act (LEPRA). That power requires authorisation by an assistant commissioner or a higher rank to quell "large-scale public disorders". Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden, who has declared this a critical incident, said he reviewed the charges and would withdraw the anti-riot charge. He will instead charge her with refusing or failing to comply with a direction under part 14 of LEPRA. "On Monday 30 June 2025, I put in place a process to review the charges laid in this matter to ensure the relevant and most appropriate charges are applied," he said in a statement today. "The review is part of normal critical incident protocols. "As part of the review an additional charge of refuse/fail to comply with direction under Part 14, section 199(1), LEPRA 2002, has been laid today. At the next court appearance, police will seek to withdraw the alternative charge under section 87ma(4)." The critical incident investigation is ongoing and will be reviewed by the Professional Standards Command with oversight from the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden. (9News) Thomas has insisted the protests outside SEC Plating on Lakemba Street were peaceful and has engaged lawyers, who are investigating all legal avenues. "We are exploring all legal avenues to ensure accountability and to protect the rights of those who seek to exercise their fundamental freedoms of assembly and expression," her lawyer Peter O'Brien said in a statement today. "Excessive force by police is a matter of serious concern and must be carefully examined through proper legal processes." Protesters claimed SEC Plating supplies parts used to manufacture F-35 jets, which are flown by the Israel Defence Forces — a claim the company denies. McFadden last week alleged the protest was unauthorised, blocked pedestrian access and the crowd were directed to move on twice. A few protesters, including Thomas acting as a legal observer, allegedly failed to comply and were arrested. Some were involved in an alleged "scuffle" with officers. Hannah Thomas suffered serious facial injuries during her arrest. (Instagram) Thomas suffered serious facial injuries during her arrest and was rushed to Bankstown Hospital, where she underwent surgery. "I don't want to get into too much detail about the traumatic events on Friday, but I'm 5'1", I weigh about 45 kilos," Thomas said in a video from her hospital bed on June 29. "I was engaged in peaceful protests, and my interactions with NSW Police have left me potentially without vision in my right eye permanently." Thomas will face Bankstown Local Court on August 12. A total of five have been charged in relation to the protest, and investigations remain ongoing. CONTACT US
Sydney Morning Herald
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Critical incident declared as police investigate Greens candidate's eye injury
'I look like this now because of Chris Minns and Yasmin Catley and their draconian anti-protest laws and their attempts to demonise protesters, especially protesters for Palestine. They've emboldened the police to crack down with extreme violence and brutality, and they were warned that those laws would lead to this outcome.' Thomas stood for the Greens against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the seat of Grayndler at last month's federal election. She is the daughter of former Malaysian attorney general Tommy Thomas. The confrontation occurred in Belmore outside SEC Plating, which protesters say supplies plating services for F-35 jets used by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). New video of the event shows a protester being grabbed after questioning what legislation officers were citing to issue move-on orders. The video shows police telling the protesters they were being issued a move-on order, but failing to provide them with details, simply saying they needed to leave the suburb of Belmore 'for 24 hours'. 'You're making shit up,' one protester said. 'If you're not educated, go read something,' the male officer responded. Activist Zack Schofield asked police to cite the legislation that empowers officers to issue move-on orders. 'Can you name it, please, because this is actually counter to LEPRA [the Law Enforcement Powers and Responsibilities Act],' he said. In response, the male officer grabbed Schofield by the upper arm, pulling him away. A scuffle broke out between protesters and officers. Loading Five people, including Thomas, have been charged with a range of offences. She will appear at Bankstown Local Court on August 12. Questions have been raised about whether new powers aimed at stopping protests at places of worship were used to justify breaking up Friday's demonstration. SEC Plating is opposite the Teebah Islamic Association Mosque on Lakemba Street in Belmore. A police factsheet for one of the other protesters seen by the Herald cited a 'place of worship' in a document describing the arrest. However, Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said none of the five protesters charged were issued with offences under the new legislation. Police maintain they were issued move-on orders for allegedly attempting to block pedestrian access to the business. 'The group of protesters have chosen over the last three months to engage in a number of protests and have refused [to submit authorisation paperwork],' he said. 'There is no doubt that the injury was sustained during the course of her arrest. We're now looking to understand the full circumstances as to how that took place,' McFadden said, adding police were sweeping social media and analysing videos. McFadden said police were previously unable to declare a critical incident as Thomas hadn't provided medical records to police. Greens MP Sue Higginson said she welcomed the declaration after writing to Premier Chris Minns on Monday morning to demand that all charges laid against protesters be withdrawn. 'I welcome the declaration that the police assault of Hannah Thomas has been declared a critical incident, but this must be recognised as the minimum requirement when police actions cause serious injury,' she said. 'It concerns me deeply that the police in announcing the critical incident have referred to the protest at Belmore 'unauthorised' … It's important to remember people do not need authorisation to hold a protest.' Speaking at an event on Monday, Minns denied police used the new laws during the Belmore protest. He said he was sorry that Thomas was injured, but refused to condemn the actions of police while an investigation was ongoing. 'My understanding is [police were called] because there was a series of protests in front of a private business. In the state, they are entitled to protest, but businesses in NSW are entitled to run their companies as well,' he said. 'If we get to the point where it is the law to allow in all circumstances a private firm to be interrupted whenever and wherever a protest wants to take place, you'd appreciate that puts us and it puts police in a terrible position.' The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission said it had been notified of the critical incident and would be independently monitoring the investigation.
