Latest news with #Minns
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Chris Minns under scrutiny for his stance on pro-Palestinian protest on Harbour Bridge
Some members of the NSW government are accusing NSW Premier Chris Minns of overstepping his authority by ruling against a pro-Palestinian protest on the Sydney Harbour Bridge this weekend. Two state Labor MPs have criticized Mr Minns, claiming he is more concerned about traffic flow than the starving children in Gaza. Sydney Mayor Clover Moore is in favour of the protest, believing the march will be a powerful symbol.
The Age
6 hours ago
- Politics
- The Age
The ‘justice warrior' who has raised the ire of Chris Minns
Recently, he launched a constitutional challenge to laws introduced by the Minns government restricting protests near places of worship. Greens MP Sue Higginson is a fan. She describes him as a justice warrior. 'Josh is somebody who is deeply respectful of the people he works with, and he's deeply respectful of our democracy,' she said. 'I mean that in the sense of our legal process, including the way our laws are made and the way the courts uphold them.' Little is known about Lees' personal background. He holds a degree in political economy from the University of Sydney, a course that has long attracted politically motivated students because it's based on the premise that economies aren't just mathematical systems, but influenced by power and social forces (Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is a more famous graduate). He grew up in a pro-trade union household, but his shift to the far left of politics happened towards the end of his time at university. He writes for Red Flag, a newspaper published by the political group Socialist Alternative, socialists who are also known as Trotskyists (and who are loathed by Minns' faction, the Labor right). He has a day job, but has never given any hints about what that might be. He lives in the inner west and grew up in Sydney's north-west. Much has been made of his strawberry-blond man bun. He has faced a few minor charges relating to protest activity, many of which have been dismissed. He refused to be interviewed or photographed for this piece. Minns, who has previously flagged the possibility of making it harder for Palestinian protesters to obtain a permit, has said a march across the bridge would throw the city into chaos and would not be allowed under any circumstances, even if more notice had been given. A march is supported by the Greens, but opposed by the Jewish community and the NSW opposition. 'I vehemently support the right of free protest, but like all rights, it's not unlimited,' said Alex Ryvchin from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, who argues the weekly pro-Palestine protests have empowered others to persecute Jewish Australians. 'Because [the protesters are] extremist by nature, they try to exploit every right to the extreme.' Lees is not alone in his concern about the government's attempts to curtail protests in NSW, a debate that has been reignited by Minns' opposition to the bridge march. There are concerns from human rights groups, the legal fraternity and even from within Labor. The most recent Labor critic is upper house MP and barrister Stephen Lawrence, who said community concern about the situation in Gaza was increasing, and senior political leaders across both major parties had created an environment that was 'hostile to protests concerned with the rights of Palestinian people'. Loading Regardless of whether the march across the bridge goes ahead on the weekend, Chris Minns has not seen the last of Josh Lees. 'The best way to fight for the right to protest,' Lees has written in Red Flag, 'is to protest, in bigger numbers than ever.'
Sydney Morning Herald
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
The ‘justice warrior' who has raised the ire of Chris Minns
Recently, he launched a constitutional challenge to laws introduced by the Minns government restricting protests near places of worship. Greens MP Sue Higginson is a fan. She describes him as a justice warrior. 'Josh is somebody who is deeply respectful of the people he works with, and he's deeply respectful of our democracy,' she said. 'I mean that in the sense of our legal process, including the way our laws are made and the way the courts uphold them.' Little is known about Lees' personal background. He holds a degree in political economy from the University of Sydney, a course that has long attracted politically motivated students because it's based on the premise that economies aren't just mathematical systems, but influenced by power and social forces (Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is a more famous graduate). He grew up in a pro-trade union household, but his shift to the far left of politics happened towards the end of his time at university. He writes for Red Flag, a newspaper published by the political group Socialist Alternative, socialists who are also known as Trotskyists (and who are loathed by Minns' faction, the Labor right). He has a day job, but has never given any hints about what that might be. He lives in the inner west and grew up in Sydney's north-west. Much has been made of his strawberry-blond man bun. He has faced a few minor charges relating to protest activity, many of which have been dismissed. He refused to be interviewed or photographed for this piece. Minns, who has previously flagged the possibility of making it harder for Palestinian protesters to obtain a permit, has said a march across the bridge would throw the city into chaos and would not be allowed under any circumstances, even if more notice had been given. A march is supported by the Greens, but opposed by the Jewish community and the NSW opposition. 'I vehemently support the right of free protest, but like all rights, it's not unlimited,' said Alex Ryvchin from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, who argues the weekly pro-Palestine protests have empowered others to persecute Jewish Australians. 'Because [the protesters are] extremist by nature, they try to exploit every right to the extreme.' Lees is not alone in his concern about the government's attempts to curtail protests in NSW, a debate that has been reignited by Minns' opposition to the bridge march. There are concerns from human rights groups, the legal fraternity and even from within Labor. The most recent Labor critic is upper house MP and barrister Stephen Lawrence, who said community concern about the situation in Gaza was increasing, and senior political leaders across both major parties had created an environment that was 'hostile to protests concerned with the rights of Palestinian people'. Loading Regardless of whether the march across the bridge goes ahead on the weekend, Chris Minns has not seen the last of Josh Lees. 'The best way to fight for the right to protest,' Lees has written in Red Flag, 'is to protest, in bigger numbers than ever.'
Sydney Morning Herald
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Violence may ensue': Labor MPs speak out against premier's opposition to bridge protest
Members of Chris Minns's government have accused the premier of overstepping his authority in declaring he would oppose a planned march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday, with Labor MPs criticising him for tainting proper process and being 'more concerned about traffic flow than the plight of starving children'. Despite repeatedly criticising pro-Palestine demonstrators – including previously flagging the potential to limit the number of times organisers could arrange protests in Sydney – Minns sought to strike a conciliatory tone on Tuesday, even as he reiterated that a planned march across the Harbour Bridge could not go ahead. 'Many people are worried about aid and humanitarian care getting into Gaza, and I want the killing to stop as well,' he said. But Minns's insistence, during a radio interview with the ABC, that the planned march should not go ahead in 'any circumstances' drew an angry rebuke from some Labor MPs who say his ongoing opposition to pro-Palestinian demonstrators has created a 'hostile' atmosphere which could lead to violence. Stephen Lawrence, an upper house Labor MP and barrister, said the 'detailed statutory regime' governing rules for protests gave 'no substantive role' to the premier in deciding whether police can refuse to give immunity to demonstrators from offences such as blocking roads. Loading But, he said, he was 'extremely concerned' by the premier's comments, which he said could 'taint' due process, and potentially lead to violent confrontations between police and demonstrators because of anger over the decision to block it. 'I find it troubling that the premier's statement does not reference any apparent sound basis to prevent the protest nor the legal mechanism in NSW through which authorisation is considered,' he said. 'I am concerned the premier has, in effect, made a purported decision himself to try and prevent this protest, that this will taint proper consideration of the matter by police, and that violence may ensue as a consequence.'
The Age
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Age
‘Violence may ensue': Labor MPs speak out against premier's opposition to bridge protest
Members of Chris Minns's government have accused the premier of overstepping his authority in declaring he would oppose a planned march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday, with Labor MPs criticising him for tainting proper process and being 'more concerned about traffic flow than the plight of starving children'. Despite repeatedly criticising pro-Palestine demonstrators – including previously flagging the potential to limit the number of times organisers could arrange protests in Sydney – Minns sought to strike a conciliatory tone on Tuesday, even as he reiterated that a planned march across the Harbour Bridge could not go ahead. 'Many people are worried about aid and humanitarian care getting into Gaza, and I want the killing to stop as well,' he said. But Minns's insistence, during a radio interview with the ABC, that the planned march should not go ahead in 'any circumstances' drew an angry rebuke from some Labor MPs who say his ongoing opposition to pro-Palestinian demonstrators has created a 'hostile' atmosphere which could lead to violence. Stephen Lawrence, an upper house Labor MP and barrister, said the 'detailed statutory regime' governing rules for protests gave 'no substantive role' to the premier in deciding whether police can refuse to give immunity to demonstrators from offences such as blocking roads. Loading But, he said, he was 'extremely concerned' by the premier's comments, which he said could 'taint' due process, and potentially lead to violent confrontations between police and demonstrators because of anger over the decision to block it. 'I find it troubling that the premier's statement does not reference any apparent sound basis to prevent the protest nor the legal mechanism in NSW through which authorisation is considered,' he said. 'I am concerned the premier has, in effect, made a purported decision himself to try and prevent this protest, that this will taint proper consideration of the matter by police, and that violence may ensue as a consequence.'
