A large pro-Palestine protest has won legal right to march across Harbour Bridge. How will the shutdown affect Sydney?
The court heard up to 50,000 people were expected to attend – the same number of people who marched across the bridge for World Pride in 2023.
New South Wales police sought powers to move on protesters and expressed serious concerns about the disruption a large protest on the bridge would have on the city.
But Justice Belinda Rigg said disruption and inconvenience alone were not enough to stifle the right to political protest and noted 'significant support for the march'.
Here are some answers to questions you may have about the march, including its planned route, transport disruptions and potential risks.
The ruling means protesters will have immunity from being charged under the Summary Offences Act. This includes protection from offences like 'obstructing traffic' – crucial in this particular protest.
However, police will still have access to a range of other powers to stem what the court described as 'antisocial behaviour' or other types of offending. This includes showing prohibited symbols.
David Mejia-Canales, a senior lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre, said the authorisation 'doesn't give people the ability to engage in all types and all forms of activism'.
'It's really important for people who do attend that they follow the directions of organisers and marshals.'
There is no authority to ban protest or deem it unlawful in NSW. This is because, while there is no express right to protest in the state, it is covered in common law and by the Australian constitution, which the high court has found implies the right to freedom of political communication.
The protest will begin at 1pm on Sunday at Lang Park in Sydney's CBD. Protesters will then march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge into north Sydney.
Early plans shared with protesters stated the march would end at the US consulate, but this may change. The protest is expected to last several hours.
The bridge will be closed to traffic from about 11.30am. Police hope it will reopen to traffic from about 4pm. They have advised people to avoid the CBD and travel in the city unless necessary.
Yes, but NSW police will comply with the court's decision and say they are working with protest organisers to address issues and concerns.
A significant police presence will be in the city, including officers brought in from across the suburbs. The force has said it will also use specialist resources, including the public order and riot squad and mounted police.
Police have advised the public to expect significant disruptions in and around the CBD.
A counter protest against antisemitism, organised by the Christian-led group Never Again is Now, will not be granted legal protection because, according to the supreme court, 'notice was served less than seven days before the proposed assembly'.
The group had been planning to protest outside the Sydney harbour tunnel, close to the pro-Palestinian march.
Rigg said police would have the legal power to direct this group to move on or, if necessary, arrest demonstrators for non-compliance.
These powers will not extend to those marching in the pro-Palestine demonstration.
The state government is yet to respond to the supreme court decision.
Earlier this week, Chris Minns opposed the protest, saying: 'We cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos.' But several NSW Labor MPs defied their premier, vowing to attend the march.
Labor's Stephen Lawrence, Anthony D'Adam, Lynda Voltz, Cameron Murphy and Sarah Kaine were among 15 NSW politicians who signed an open letter on Thursday evening calling on the government to facilitate 'a safe and orderly event' on Sunday.
The state opposition leader, Mark Speakman, said while he respected the freedom to protest, including with rallies and marches, 'allowing the takeover of the Harbour Bridge for a protest in the middle of the day sets the wrong precedent for the future'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
12 minutes ago
- BBC News
Three people charged with supporting Palestine Action
Two women and a man have been charged with showing support for proscribed terror group Palestine Action following a protest in central Shippam, 71, of West Sussex, Judit Murray, 71, of Surrey, and Fiona Maclean, 53, of Hackney are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 16 September, the Metropolitan Police three were arrested at a protest in Westminster on 5 Palestine Action is a criminal offence, with membership or expressing support for the group punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The charges come before a planned protest in support of the group on Saturday afternoon in London's Parliament Square, with organisers expecting more than 500 people to Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said of Thursday's arrests: "We are also planning to send case files to the Crown Prosecution Service for the other 26 people arrested on the same day."I would strongly advise anyone planning to come to London this weekend to show support for Palestine Action to think about the potential criminal consequences of their actions."The group has won permission to challenge its controversial High Court ruled on 30 July that proscription of the group, which has carried out break-ins at defence firms linked to Israel as part of direct action protests, should be reviewed.
The Independent
14 minutes ago
- The Independent
Three charged with supporting Palestine Action at London rally
Two women and a man have been charged with showing support for proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action following a protest in central London. Jeremy Shippam, 71, of West Sussex, Judit Murray, 71, of Surrey, and Fiona Maclean, 53, of Hackney are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 16 September, the Metropolitan Police said. The three were arrested at a protest in Westminster on 5 July. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'Anyone who displays public support for Palestine Action, a proscribed organisation... 'Is committing an offence under the Terrorism Act and can expect to be arrested and, as these charges show, will be investigated to the full extent of the law. 'These charges relate to three people arrested in central London on 5 July. We are also planning to send case files to the Crown Prosecution Service for the other 26 people arrested on the same day. 'I would strongly advise anyone planning to come to London this weekend to show support for Palestine Action to think about the potential criminal consequences of their actions.'
Reuters
14 minutes ago
- Reuters
Solomon Islands blocks US, China, Taiwan from Pacific's top political meet
SYDNEY, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has said that 21 donor countries, including the United States and China, will not be invited to the region's top political meeting, a move that follows pressure from Beijing to exclude Taiwan. China's biggest security ally in the Pacific Islands, the Solomon Islands is hosting the annual meeting of the 18-member bloc's forum in September. Three island states have diplomatic ties with Taiwan and not China, and they had expressed concern Taiwanese officials would be blocked from entering the country. Solomon Islands switched ties from Taiwan to China in 2019, and removed Taiwan from a list of countries eligible for concessional entry in April. Beijing, which has deepened its ties in the Pacific, claims Taiwan as its own territory. Manele told the Solomon Islands parliament on Wednesday his cabinet had decided no dialogue partners would be invited to this year's event, because a review of each country's relationship with the Pacific had not been completed. He said he had informed the forum's 18 leaders of the decision this week. The World Bank, Asia Development Bank and civil society groups would attend, he added. Opposition party politician Peter Kenilorea Jr, chairman of the parliament's foreign relations committee, said the decision was "a massive missed opportunity" for Pacific Island countries to meet global donors. "We know this issue is all about China and Taiwan," he told parliament. After forum leaders were told of the decision, Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine criticised interference in the forum's affairs in a speech to the Taiwan ally's parliament. China had "interfered" at last year's meeting in Tonga to change the language of the leaders' communique, Heine said. References to Taiwan were removed after Chinese diplomats complained. The Pacific Islands is among the world's most aid-reliant regions, and on the frontline of rising sea levels. The region has also been a focus of increasing security competition between the United States and China. While U.S. allies Australia and New Zealand are the largest forum members, neither Beijing nor Washington are part of the group. Kenilorea Jr said he feared that China, which has a strong presence in Solomon Islands, will hold bilateral meetings with Pacific leaders on the margins of the forum regardless. "This could be seen by some PIF leaders as a betrayal of the collective and could risk an even bigger rift of the group," he said in comments to Reuters. China's embassy did not respond to a request for comment. The forum's foreign ministers will meet in Fiji next week.
