Police 'scrambling' as pro-Palestinian Sydney Harbour Bridge march gets green light
"Anyone who thinks they're going to come along and hijack this protest or do the wrong thing, police will take swift action."
Disruption 'in the nature of peaceful protests' Justice Belinda Rigg rejected a prohibition order sought by police over the planned protest, organised by the Palestine Action Group, which is expected to draw thousands. The application on behalf of the NSW police commissioner sought to prohibit the march on public safety grounds. However, Rigg said in her judgement that arguments it would cause disruption were not sufficient. "It is in the nature of peaceful protests to cause disruption to others," she said.
Rigg noted there was significant support for the march from hundreds of organisations including Amnesty International, various churches, the Jewish Council of Australia, the nurses and midwives association and other trade unions.
NSW Police took court action to categorise the march as unlawful and unauthorised, arguing that closing the bridge with less than a week's notice was unreasonable. A prohibition order would not have banned attendance at the protest, but would have meant participants would lack legal protection against offences like blocking roads or traffic. The Supreme Court decision means those attending Sunday's protest will be provided these legal rights. Outside court, Palestine Action Group Sydney spokesperson Josh Lees said: "This will go down, I think, as one of those moments in history when the people of the world and in our case, the people of Sydney and NSW, stood up to be on the right side of history."
The group had called for a "march for humanity" over the Sydney Harbour Bridge in response to mounting evidence of "widespread starvation, malnutrition and disease" in Gaza, according to the United Nations.
'There to keep everyone safe' Police on Saturday implored those planning to take part to act peacefully and respectfully, warning them they would be closely monitored.
Protesters are expected to march from the CBD to North Sydney, with the bridge closed from 11.30am to about 4pm.
Police Minister Yasmine Catley urged people to avoid the city if possible. "Make no mistake there is going to be massive, massive disruption ... there will be significant delays," she said.
"But we believe police will be able to handle the protest on the bridge so long as people are peaceful, that they listen to what police ask them to do and that they are sensible."
What happened in court? On Friday, NSW Police argued the force would not be able to create a safe environment for the rally and raised the possibility of a crowd crush. Lachlan Gyles SC, who represented NSW Police, told the court: "This is really unprecedented in terms of scale, the level of risk, the lack of time to prepare." He accused Lees of ignoring his duty of care to public safety. Under cross-examination, acting assistant police commissioner Adam Johnson raised the possibility of a crowd crush.
"I'm personally concerned about that," he said.
LISTEN TO "We (Palestine Action Group) want to work with them to facilitate a march over the bridge that is safe and peaceful," he said. Felicity Graham, the group's barrister, told the court it would be safer for police to authorise the protest, as people would march regardless of the decision.
"A prohibition order may well increase the number of people who attend the protest, and exacerbate the potential for unrest and violence," she said.
Outside the court, Lees said on Friday the group was open to delaying the rally. "We put forward a whole proposal for 24 August, we would have our march over the Sydney Harbour Bridge that would march identical routes to the World Pride March in 2023," he said. Graham also said that the growing support for the march, which includes members of parliament, organisations, and high-profile figures, should be considered. Rigg reserved her decision under Saturday morning. The bridge has previously been shut, including for a reconciliation rally in 2000, which attracted more than 250,000 people. — With additional reporting from the Australian Associated Press
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