‘Violence may ensue': Labor MPs speak out against premier's opposition to bridge protest
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.
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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.'
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