Decision left up in the air over pro-Palestine march
But whether police will be able to bar protesters from blocking public roads and infrastructure on Sunday is yet to be determined, after a Supreme Court judge ruled she would sleep on her decision.
Aimed at shining a spotlight on starvation in Gaza as a result of Israel's offensive, the rally at the Sydney Harbour Bridge has been hyped by organisers as a "March for Humanity".
Similar demonstrations are planned in Melbourne and Adelaide and an online petition to allow the Sydney march has attracted more than 15,000 signatures.
NSW Police on Friday took the demonstration's organisers, Palestine Action Group, to the Supreme Court in Sydney to request the rally be deemed unauthorised.
NSW has a permit system that allows protesters to block public roads and infrastructure but a court can revoke those immunities if police challenge the permit.
Representing state police, Lachlan Gyles SC argued they would not be able to maintain a safe environment if the protest was authorised and closing the bridge was not reasonable with less than a week's notice.
Under cross-examination, acting Assistant Police Commissioner Adam Johnson raised the possibility of a crowd crush.
"I'm personally concerned about that," he said on Friday.
But Palestine Action Group barrister Felicity Graham told the court it would be safer for police to authorise the protest, as people would march regardless of Justice Belinda Rigg's 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.
The group had vowed to rally regardless of the judge's decision, with spokesman Josh Lees saying the groundswell of support was unstoppable.
A last-minute application on Friday was lodged to police by a pro-Israel fringe group to also protest in the tunnel under Sydney Harbour, the court heard.
Police confirmed to AAP the group withdrew the application soon after.
Five NSW Labor MPs and Greens senator David Shoebridge are among 16 politicians planning to join the march.
They had urged the government to facilitate a safe and orderly event on Sunday or "some other agreed date".
Outspoken upper house government MP Stephen Lawrence went a step further.
He predicted Premier Chris Minns' perceived interference in police negotiations with protesters would hamper the court's ability to thwart the bridge plans.
"The circumstances of this protest are not ideal, but the event is now absolutely inevitable, largely because of the way it has been mishandled," he said on Friday morning.
Mr Minns softened his largely anti-protest stance on Friday and said he hoped organisers would work with police to find an alternative route.
"There are thousands of people that want to be part of the protest. It's not deniable and many people have been struck by images that have come out of Gaza," he said.
Mr Minns had earlier suggested the Harbour Bridge protest would bring "chaos" to Sydney.
Mr Lawrence and fellow MP Sarah Kaine said the premier's position ran counter to Labor Party values.
The number of Palestinians killed during the war in Gaza is now more than 60,000 according to local health authorities, while the United Nations says dozens of people have died in recent weeks because of starvation.
Israel's campaign began after Hamas, which Australia has designated as terror group, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 250 hostage.
Justice Riggs has reserved her decision until 10am on Saturday.
It is "inevitable" thousands of people will march over an Australian landmark for Palestine rights.
But whether police will be able to bar protesters from blocking public roads and infrastructure on Sunday is yet to be determined, after a Supreme Court judge ruled she would sleep on her decision.
Aimed at shining a spotlight on starvation in Gaza as a result of Israel's offensive, the rally at the Sydney Harbour Bridge has been hyped by organisers as a "March for Humanity".
Similar demonstrations are planned in Melbourne and Adelaide and an online petition to allow the Sydney march has attracted more than 15,000 signatures.
NSW Police on Friday took the demonstration's organisers, Palestine Action Group, to the Supreme Court in Sydney to request the rally be deemed unauthorised.
NSW has a permit system that allows protesters to block public roads and infrastructure but a court can revoke those immunities if police challenge the permit.
Representing state police, Lachlan Gyles SC argued they would not be able to maintain a safe environment if the protest was authorised and closing the bridge was not reasonable with less than a week's notice.
Under cross-examination, acting Assistant Police Commissioner Adam Johnson raised the possibility of a crowd crush.
"I'm personally concerned about that," he said on Friday.
But Palestine Action Group barrister Felicity Graham told the court it would be safer for police to authorise the protest, as people would march regardless of Justice Belinda Rigg's 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.
The group had vowed to rally regardless of the judge's decision, with spokesman Josh Lees saying the groundswell of support was unstoppable.
A last-minute application on Friday was lodged to police by a pro-Israel fringe group to also protest in the tunnel under Sydney Harbour, the court heard.
Police confirmed to AAP the group withdrew the application soon after.
Five NSW Labor MPs and Greens senator David Shoebridge are among 16 politicians planning to join the march.
They had urged the government to facilitate a safe and orderly event on Sunday or "some other agreed date".
Outspoken upper house government MP Stephen Lawrence went a step further.
He predicted Premier Chris Minns' perceived interference in police negotiations with protesters would hamper the court's ability to thwart the bridge plans.
"The circumstances of this protest are not ideal, but the event is now absolutely inevitable, largely because of the way it has been mishandled," he said on Friday morning.
Mr Minns softened his largely anti-protest stance on Friday and said he hoped organisers would work with police to find an alternative route.
"There are thousands of people that want to be part of the protest. It's not deniable and many people have been struck by images that have come out of Gaza," he said.
Mr Minns had earlier suggested the Harbour Bridge protest would bring "chaos" to Sydney.
Mr Lawrence and fellow MP Sarah Kaine said the premier's position ran counter to Labor Party values.
The number of Palestinians killed during the war in Gaza is now more than 60,000 according to local health authorities, while the United Nations says dozens of people have died in recent weeks because of starvation.
Israel's campaign began after Hamas, which Australia has designated as terror group, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 250 hostage.
Justice Riggs has reserved her decision until 10am on Saturday.
It is "inevitable" thousands of people will march over an Australian landmark for Palestine rights.
But whether police will be able to bar protesters from blocking public roads and infrastructure on Sunday is yet to be determined, after a Supreme Court judge ruled she would sleep on her decision.
Aimed at shining a spotlight on starvation in Gaza as a result of Israel's offensive, the rally at the Sydney Harbour Bridge has been hyped by organisers as a "March for Humanity".
Similar demonstrations are planned in Melbourne and Adelaide and an online petition to allow the Sydney march has attracted more than 15,000 signatures.
NSW Police on Friday took the demonstration's organisers, Palestine Action Group, to the Supreme Court in Sydney to request the rally be deemed unauthorised.
NSW has a permit system that allows protesters to block public roads and infrastructure but a court can revoke those immunities if police challenge the permit.
Representing state police, Lachlan Gyles SC argued they would not be able to maintain a safe environment if the protest was authorised and closing the bridge was not reasonable with less than a week's notice.
Under cross-examination, acting Assistant Police Commissioner Adam Johnson raised the possibility of a crowd crush.
"I'm personally concerned about that," he said on Friday.
But Palestine Action Group barrister Felicity Graham told the court it would be safer for police to authorise the protest, as people would march regardless of Justice Belinda Rigg's 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.
The group had vowed to rally regardless of the judge's decision, with spokesman Josh Lees saying the groundswell of support was unstoppable.
A last-minute application on Friday was lodged to police by a pro-Israel fringe group to also protest in the tunnel under Sydney Harbour, the court heard.
Police confirmed to AAP the group withdrew the application soon after.
Five NSW Labor MPs and Greens senator David Shoebridge are among 16 politicians planning to join the march.
They had urged the government to facilitate a safe and orderly event on Sunday or "some other agreed date".
Outspoken upper house government MP Stephen Lawrence went a step further.
He predicted Premier Chris Minns' perceived interference in police negotiations with protesters would hamper the court's ability to thwart the bridge plans.
"The circumstances of this protest are not ideal, but the event is now absolutely inevitable, largely because of the way it has been mishandled," he said on Friday morning.
Mr Minns softened his largely anti-protest stance on Friday and said he hoped organisers would work with police to find an alternative route.
"There are thousands of people that want to be part of the protest. It's not deniable and many people have been struck by images that have come out of Gaza," he said.
Mr Minns had earlier suggested the Harbour Bridge protest would bring "chaos" to Sydney.
Mr Lawrence and fellow MP Sarah Kaine said the premier's position ran counter to Labor Party values.
The number of Palestinians killed during the war in Gaza is now more than 60,000 according to local health authorities, while the United Nations says dozens of people have died in recent weeks because of starvation.
Israel's campaign began after Hamas, which Australia has designated as terror group, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 250 hostage.
Justice Riggs has reserved her decision until 10am on Saturday.
It is "inevitable" thousands of people will march over an Australian landmark for Palestine rights.
But whether police will be able to bar protesters from blocking public roads and infrastructure on Sunday is yet to be determined, after a Supreme Court judge ruled she would sleep on her decision.
Aimed at shining a spotlight on starvation in Gaza as a result of Israel's offensive, the rally at the Sydney Harbour Bridge has been hyped by organisers as a "March for Humanity".
Similar demonstrations are planned in Melbourne and Adelaide and an online petition to allow the Sydney march has attracted more than 15,000 signatures.
NSW Police on Friday took the demonstration's organisers, Palestine Action Group, to the Supreme Court in Sydney to request the rally be deemed unauthorised.
NSW has a permit system that allows protesters to block public roads and infrastructure but a court can revoke those immunities if police challenge the permit.
Representing state police, Lachlan Gyles SC argued they would not be able to maintain a safe environment if the protest was authorised and closing the bridge was not reasonable with less than a week's notice.
Under cross-examination, acting Assistant Police Commissioner Adam Johnson raised the possibility of a crowd crush.
"I'm personally concerned about that," he said on Friday.
But Palestine Action Group barrister Felicity Graham told the court it would be safer for police to authorise the protest, as people would march regardless of Justice Belinda Rigg's 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.
The group had vowed to rally regardless of the judge's decision, with spokesman Josh Lees saying the groundswell of support was unstoppable.
A last-minute application on Friday was lodged to police by a pro-Israel fringe group to also protest in the tunnel under Sydney Harbour, the court heard.
Police confirmed to AAP the group withdrew the application soon after.
Five NSW Labor MPs and Greens senator David Shoebridge are among 16 politicians planning to join the march.
They had urged the government to facilitate a safe and orderly event on Sunday or "some other agreed date".
Outspoken upper house government MP Stephen Lawrence went a step further.
He predicted Premier Chris Minns' perceived interference in police negotiations with protesters would hamper the court's ability to thwart the bridge plans.
"The circumstances of this protest are not ideal, but the event is now absolutely inevitable, largely because of the way it has been mishandled," he said on Friday morning.
Mr Minns softened his largely anti-protest stance on Friday and said he hoped organisers would work with police to find an alternative route.
"There are thousands of people that want to be part of the protest. It's not deniable and many people have been struck by images that have come out of Gaza," he said.
Mr Minns had earlier suggested the Harbour Bridge protest would bring "chaos" to Sydney.
Mr Lawrence and fellow MP Sarah Kaine said the premier's position ran counter to Labor Party values.
The number of Palestinians killed during the war in Gaza is now more than 60,000 according to local health authorities, while the United Nations says dozens of people have died in recent weeks because of starvation.
Israel's campaign began after Hamas, which Australia has designated as terror group, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 250 hostage.
Justice Riggs has reserved her decision until 10am on Saturday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Courier-Mail
23 minutes ago
- Courier-Mail
Melbourne students protesting against the Gaza conflict block city
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. About 300 student protesters have blocked one of Melbourne CBD's main intersections as they rallied against the Gaza conflict. The group marched from the State Library to Flinders St they sat in the middle of the intersection for about 60 minutes on Thursday. Police moved on one man who breached the peace and five other protesters were arrested for obstructing the roadway. They are expected to be charged on summons. About 300 students marched through the streets of Melbourne's CBD rallying against the Gaza conflict. Picture: NewsWire / Valeriu Campan The protest was part of nationwide action organised by the National Union of Students and Students for Palestine. Picture: NewsWire / Valeriu Campan The students marched from the State Library to Flinders St station were they blocked traffic for about 60 minutes. Picture: NewsWire / Valeriu Campan The protest was part of nationwide action organised by the National Union of Students and Students for Palestine, which called for a student referendum on Gaza. The students want to vote no confidence in the Australian government alleging it has been complicit in the genocide in Gaza and to end weapons trade with Israel. One man was moved on for breaching the peace. Five people were arrested during the protest for obstructing the roadway. The protest ended at Federation Square. Picture: NewsWire / Valeriu Campan National Union of Students education officer James McVicar said in a video posted to social media they would continue to stand against war and any politician or political party that endorsed war or unprovoked acts of aggression. Flinders Street has since reopened. Originally published as Melbourne students protesting against the Gaza conflict block the city
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Albanese shies away from reforms as Treasury says company taxes are hurting wages
Those shifts include a drop in the share of revenue raised from indirect taxes such as the GST, tobacco and fuel excise, which Treasury warned were likely to fall further due to technological change over the coming years. Ordinary workers, who already account for more than 50 per cent of government revenue through personal income tax, face even more tax pain. Young workers would be worst hit as the number of people over the age of 70 paying tax had fallen over the past three decades due to previous governments' policies. 'A smaller share of the Australian population are set to shoulder the burden of generating income tax revenue as the population ages,' it said. Not only will fewer workers pay more, but without government intervention, bracket creep will push up effective tax rates on those who are in employment. Those high rates would act as a disincentive to some people from taking on a job or improving their skills, while they would also encourage people to engage in creative tax planning. Loading Chaney, the WA independent MP, has proposed a 'progressive GST ' to overhaul the tax system and increase revenue to the Commonwealth, adding to the push from people outside the government for substantial tax reform. This week, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said it would be a 'great outcome' if after the roundtable the government had a series of ideas that it 'could work through in the context of the next couple of budgets'. On Thursday, Albanese, who has effectively rejected any GST changes, noted a range of ideas would be floated before the roundtable, which starts on August 19. 'Governments make government policy, and our tax policy, the only tax policy that we're implementing, is the one that we took to the election,' he said. The ACTU and the social service sector have called on the government to wind back property tax concessions including negative gearing and capital gains tax. But Albanese made clear the government was focused on its current tax settings. 'I've said what our tax policy is, it's very clear what it is. It's very clear what it isn't as well,' he said. Greens economic justice spokesman Nick McKim described Chaney's proposal as a 'lazy idea'. 'If we want to make people's lives better, we should make big corporations pay their fair share of tax and use the revenue to provide genuine cost of living relief,' he said. One key area of the economic roundtable will be ways to reduce red tape and cut bureaucracy costs. The Productivity Commission, in a report to be released on Friday, found aligning product safety standards used in Australia with international standards could lift GDP by between $1.9 billion and $3.8 billion a year. It found most standards used in state or federal legislation were specific to Australia when existing international standards could be used instead. The commission used the example of bicycle helmets, which are almost all imported. Loading The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission estimated in 2016 that businesses would save $14 million a year if helmet standards mirrored those imposed by the European Union and the United States. But it was not until 2024 that the standard was revised in line with the EU and US, with most states and territories yet to adopt the change. 'The net result is that eight years after realising the value of harmonisation, most Australians are yet to see benefits from this harmonisation,' the commission found. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said regulatory reform was high on the government's agenda as it could make the economy more productive and competitive. 'Standards reform could save Australians billions of dollars every year and ease the burden on businesses,' he said.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Calls for revamped charge to hit drivers
The federal body tasked with boosting Australian living standards has reissued calls for a national road user charge to help fund major infrastructure projects, which would also force drivers of electric vehicles to contribute to road maintenance. As it stands, EV drivers are not subject to the 51.6 cents per litre fuel excise drivers ultimately pay when refuelling at the bowser. The call to arms was detailed in the Productivity Commission's (PC) analysis of the National Competition Policy – the fourth of five reports handed to Jim Chalmers ahead of the Economic Reform Roundtable later this month. This follows long-term calls by the PC to enact a road user charges on all vehicle types, with a current charge only applied to heavy vehicles through a diesel excise. 'Road infrastructure should be funded through user charges (prices) that reflect the efficient cost of providing and maintaining that infrastructure,' the report said. 'By giving drivers a clear signal about the cost of infrastructure, they would have an incentive to use it more efficiently. 'Moreover, there will be a signal to infrastructure providers where changes in road capacity are warranted.' The Productivity Commission urged the federal government to consider national reform to funding roads infrastructure, which includes the use of a road user tax on all vehicles. NewsWire/ Tertius Pickard Credit: News Corp Australia It said national reform should be prioritised following the High Court challenge which overruled the Victorian government's attempt to put in place a 2 cents a kilometre on EV drivers in 2023. The PC also noted that the 'growth in use of electric vehicles' should be 'added impetus' for priority reform, with the commission set to give its final report to the Treasurer in late October. 'The decision of the High Court rules out state-based distance road user charges and means governments need to consider a national approach to road funding,' it said. 'This opens the opportunity to design a system that is less fragmented and better reflects the costs of providing and using road infrastructure.' In an earlier report released this week, the PC urged Labor to scrap subsidies on EVs, like the fringe benefits tax exemption on electric cars and plug-in hybrids. Instead, it said the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard should be the 'main tool for promoting clean vehicles'. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has previously doubted issuing a road user charge for EVs, but flagged tax settings may have to change as EV take-up increases. NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Previously Mr Chalmers has said the government has no immediate plans to tax EV users, however he said discussions with the sector and states had been ongoing. 'Over time, the use of fossil fuels in our car fleets will come down, and EV use will go up,' he told reporters in July. 'We've seen that, and we're making a contribution to that with our policies and that will have implications for the tax base.' However, despite lags at a federal level, the NSW state government has flagged a distance-based charge for eligible EVs set to come into place from July 1, 2027, or when EVs make up 30 per cent of all new vehicle sales. The PC's analysis of competition policy also found regulating Australian standards with overseas standards could boost GDP by up to 0.2 per cent a year – a nominal increase between $1.9bn to $3.8bn. Occupational licensing reform, which would make it easier for workers to move interstate, was noted as a competition-boosting change which would result in the biggest affect on the economy, which could deliver between a $5bn to $10bn boost to GDP. This comes after the government flagged changes to design a national scheme for people in electrical trades in the March federal budget.
