Pro-Palestine protesters want to march across Sydney Harbour Bridge
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Sydney Morning Herald
41 minutes ago
- 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
41 minutes ago
- 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.'
Sky News AU
4 hours ago
- Sky News AU
2GB host Mark Levy slams Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore over planned Sydney Harbour Bridge pro-Palestinian march
2GB host Mark Levy has slammed Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore for backing a pro-Palestine march across the Harbour Bridge. The Palestine Action Group in Sydney announced on Sunday that a rally was being planned across the Harbour Bridge on August 3 to send a ''powerful'' message to the world on the conflict in Gaza. Levy was left bemused as Ms Moore claimed a pro-Palestine march over the bridge would be a 'powerful symbol'. 'So, Clover Moore thinks a powerful move for Sydney is a so called 'march for humanity' with pro-Palestinian activists walking over the Harbour Bridge, chanting things like 'death, death to the IDF' and holding up signs that say 'to the river to the sea',' Levy said. 'Is she serious? 'All the while the Hamas terrorists still control Gaza and continue to hold Israeli hostages after the rape and murder of Israelis on October 7, 2023.' The Lord Mayor said she thinks the bridge should be used to stage the protest if the sentiment within the community is 'significant enough'. 'It would be an incredibly powerful symbol for our most iconic landmark to be the site of a demonstration against starvation in Gaza and in favour of lasting peace,' Ms Moore said, according to The Guardian. 'The government should work to find a suitable alternate location for this week's protests, and if the community sentiment is significant enough to warrant the use of the bridge the government should work with organisers to plan for its use.' Levy said Moore is 'kidding herself', proceeding to ask her 'why aren't you calling up the terrorists? Where's your condemnation of Hamas?' 'I mean they are already talking about defying the police. So, Clover, are you going to take responsibility if things turn violent at 1 o'clock on Sunday? 'I am sick to death of our streets being hijacked by protesters. If you want to protest and demonstrate, do it in a park or somewhere where it doesn't interrupt the lives of other Australians.' New South Wales Premier Chris Minns quashed plans for a protest of such "scale and nature" on the bridge, particularly with '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," he said in the statement. "Unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns. "We cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos." It is understood police are in discussions with organisers about other routes the protest can proceed at.
