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Perth Now
7 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Sydney prepares for bridge march
Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters are expected to stream across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday after the Supreme Court rejected a bid to block the anti-war march across the landmark. Conditions are expected to be wet for the rally, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting 10 to 35mm of rain on Sunday, but organisers claim as many as 50,000 people could take part. Protesters will gather at Lang Park in the Sydney CBD at 1pm before marching across the bridge. Beginning at York and Grosvenor streets at 1.30pm, protesters will then file onto the bridge before finishing on the northern side of the bridge at Bradfield Park, according to rally organisers the Palestine Action Group. The march is expected to last three hours. Traffic on the bridge will be closed from 11.30am and is expected to be re-opened by 4pm. Residents and motorists are being urged to avoid the area having been warned of significant disruptions. Bus services will terminate in the CBD on the south side of the bridge and at North Sydney and St Leonards on the northern side. A massive pro-Palestinian protest is due to go ahead on the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday. NewsWire / Damian Shaw. Credit: News Corp Australia Protest organiser Josh Lees. NewsWire/Jeremy Piper. Credit: News Corp Australia Trains will be running across the Harbour Bridge during the march, but delays are expected given the number of people predicted to be streaming into the city. Transport for NSW says that 'extensive' queues are expected at the entrance to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, with a flow-on effect expected for the rest of the traffic network. Motorists are being urged to consider alternative routes and allow plenty of extra time, including going from the northern beaches and north shore to the airport. The Metro service will not in operation between Tallawong and Sydenham on Sunday due to trackwork. Buses will replace Metro services between Tallawong and Chatswood . Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees, who has been the public face of the group's push to hold the historic march across the bridge, hailed a NSW Supreme Court decision on Saturday as a 'huge victory for the Palestine movement in this country' Premier Chris Minns had publicly expressed his opposition to the march. Traffic will be closed on the Harbour Bridge for four and a half hours. Christian Gilles/NewsWire. Credit: News Corp Australia And the NSW Police made an application to the NSW Supreme Court to block the protesters being issued with a Form 1, which affords protesters protection from anti-assembly laws However Justice Belinda Rigg refused the Commissioner's application. 'The fact the proposed assembly is likely to cause significant inconvenience to residents … is far from determinative,' Justice Rigg said in her judgment. 'If matters such as this were to be determinative, no assembly involving inconvenience to others would be permitted.' The Palestinian Action Group said in a social media post: 'Tomorrow we are going to make history! 'We will hold a massive march over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, dedicated to using our people power to stop the genocide in Gaza. 'We are working with police and NSW transport to ensure a safe, family-friendly event for everyone.'
Perth Now
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Judgment day for Harbour Bridge protest
Police will seek to stop a pro-Palestine march across Sydney Harbour Bridge in the Supreme Court on Friday despite activists swearing the protest will go ahead. Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees will be dragged before the state's highest court on Friday in a bid by the NSW Police to stop Sunday's march. Activists filed a Form 1 with police last week but are facing legal action after officers revealed on Wednesday they would be opposing the march. Organisers say the march would be 'global news' and seeks to raise awareness to widespread starvation in Gaza amid continued attacks by Israel. The event drew swift criticism from Labor Premier Chris Minns, who said Sydney might 'descend into chaos' if it is allowed to go ahead. Police will seek to stop a pro-Palestine march across Sydney Harbour Bridge. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Minns described the march as a 'logistic and communications Everest', and he said he would not allow it to go ahead. Those sentiments were mirrored by Opposition Leader Mark Speakman, who on Thursday said 'the protest should not occur on the bridge'. 'Once you open the gate … every person who wants to protest will say, 'well, it was good enough for the Palestine protesters'.' Opposition to the march has sparked backlash from within the Labor ranks, with MLC Stephen Lawrence airing his concerns in a late-night statement. 'I am concerned the Premier has, in effect, made a purported decision himself to try and prevent this protest,' Mr Lawrence said. 'This will taint proper consideration of the matter by police, and that violence may ensue as a consequence.' Palestine Action Group organiser Joshua Lees will front court. NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia A second Labor MP, Anthony D'Adam, also accused Mr Minns of being 'more concerned about traffic flow than the plight of starving children in Gaza'. The protest comes almost two years into Israel's war on the Gaza Strip following Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack. Tens of thousands of civilians have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of the war, with many more now facing starvation. This week, Canada joined France and the UK in indicating plans to recognise Palestinian statehood in retaliation to the aid crisis in Gaza. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stepped up his criticism of Israel but has fallen short of recognising the state of Palestine. Protesters have rallied across Australia's major cities near weekly since Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip. Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna on Tuesday said police would be lodging an application with the Supreme Court to deem the bridge protest unlawful. In NSW, police can support a Form 1 application for a protest, which affords protesters protection from anti-assembly laws, or oppose it in court. NSW Premier Chris Minns is strongly opposed to the march. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia Mr McKenna said the decision to oppose the protest was made independently of Mr Minns, citing risks that emergency services may be blocked. Organisers have regularly cited recent closures of the bridge, including for the filming of a Ryan Gosling movie and for the 2023 World Pride march. Sunday's march has received the backing of more than 300 unions and civil society groups. More than 50 of those signed a letter to Mr Minns on Thursday, urging him to 'facilitate the exercise of the democratic right of protest'. 'Seeking to shut down this rally would be a serious departure from the NSW state and police's responsibility to uphold the democratic right of protest,' the letter said. 'We urge your government to facilitate the exercise of democratic freedoms in collaboration with community groups and support the holding of this protest.' Human Rights Watch, the Redfern Legal Centre, the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, and Asylum Seeker Centre are among the groups to sign the letter.
Perth Now
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Protesters defiant as bridge battle looms
Organisers of a pro-Palestine march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge are defiant as threats of court action loom, with civil society groups writing to the Premier to support the rally. The Palestine Action Group filed a Form 1 with NSW Police last week, seeking to march across the bridge on Sunday in protest of mass starvation in Gaza. Police are expected to seek to block the protest at the Supreme Court in Sydney on Thursday following staunch pushback from NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns. He vowed not to allow the march go ahead at any point, claiming that Sydney would 'descend into chaos' and it was a logistical 'Everest'. Organisers said they received a summons at 4.30pm on Wednesday from NSW Police to attend court, though as of Thursday morning no time had been set for the hearing. Organisers have remained defiant despite court threats. NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone Credit: News Corp Australia It comes after 55 union and civil society groups signed a letter to the Premier on Thursday, urging him to 'facilitate the exercise of the democratic right of protest'. 'Seeking to shut down this rally would be a serious departure from the NSW State and Police's responsibility to uphold the democratic right of protest,' the letter said. 'We urge your government to facilitate the exercise of democratic freedoms in collaboration with community groups and support the holding of this protest.' Organisers and the signees have repeatedly cited previous shutdowns of the bridge, including for the filming of a movie and the World Pride march in 2023. Human Rights Watch, the Redfern Legal Centre, the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, and Asylum Seeker Centre are among the groups to sign the letter. Activists say the protest, which was expected to be attended by tens of thousands of people, comes at an urgent time as deliberate mass starvation grips Gaza. Israel has become increasingly isolated over its nearly two-year campaign following Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack. On Thursday, Canada joined France and the UK in recognising a Palestinian state in a retaliatory move over the aid situation in Gaza. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has in recent days ramped up his criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza but fallen short of committing to recognising Palestinian statehood. Protesters have rallied across Australia's major cities near weekly since Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip. Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna on Tuesday said police would be lodging an application with the Supreme Court to deem the bridge protest unlawful. Premier Chris Minns warned that Sydney would 'descend into chaos' if the march went ahead. NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia In NSW, police can support a Form 1 application for a protest, which affords protesters protection from anti-assembly laws, or oppose it in court. Mr McKenna said the decision to oppose the protest was made independently of Mr Minns, citing risks that emergency services may be blocked. Mr Minns has faced dissent from within his own party over his staunch opposition to the protest, which is backed by the Greens and some independents. Labor MLC Stephen Lawrence said in a statement he was 'concerned the Premier has, in effect, made a purported decision himself to try and prevent this protest'. 'This will taint proper consideration of the matter by police, and that violence may ensue as a consequence,' he said on Tuesday night. A second Labor MP, Anthony D'Adam, also accused Mr Minns of being 'more concerned about traffic flow than the plight of starving children in Gaza'.
Sydney Morning Herald
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Pro-Palestine demonstration across Sydney Harbour Bridge to be blocked
NSW Premier Chris Minns says his government will not support pro-Palestinian protesters crossing the Harbour Bridge on Sunday, saying he 'cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos' and police would work with organisers to find an alternative route. Palestine Action Group applied to NSW Police to march over what it described as 'Australia's most iconic symbol' on Sunday afternoon as part of a demonstration against starvation in Gaza. In a statement on Monday, Minns said his government would not support a 'protest of this scale' taking place on the Harbour Bridge with only 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. Unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns,' he said. 'We cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos. NSW Police are in discussions with organisers about other routes they can take and are working to ensure community safety is upheld.' PAG spokesperson Josh Lees said: 'The premier warns of chaos, but there is nothing chaotic about people marching for peace, to stop mass starvation. We call on the NSW authorities to work with us to plan this event and stand on the right side of history. 'If the premier says we need more time to plan such an event, then would he agree to support the March for Humanity a week later?' A spokeswoman for NSW Police said the Form 1 application had been received by Sydney City Police Area Command and officers were consulting the relevant stakeholders.
The Age
28-07-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Pro-Palestine demonstration across Sydney Harbour Bridge to be blocked
NSW Premier Chris Minns says his government will not support pro-Palestinian protesters crossing the Harbour Bridge on Sunday, saying he 'cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos' and police would work with organisers to find an alternative route. Palestine Action Group applied to NSW Police to march over what it described as 'Australia's most iconic symbol' on Sunday afternoon as part of a demonstration against starvation in Gaza. In a statement on Monday, Minns said his government would not support a 'protest of this scale' taking place on the Harbour Bridge with only 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. Unplanned disruption risks not only significant inconvenience, but real public safety concerns,' he said. 'We cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos. NSW Police are in discussions with organisers about other routes they can take and are working to ensure community safety is upheld.' PAG spokesperson Josh Lees said: 'The premier warns of chaos, but there is nothing chaotic about people marching for peace, to stop mass starvation. We call on the NSW authorities to work with us to plan this event and stand on the right side of history. 'If the premier says we need more time to plan such an event, then would he agree to support the March for Humanity a week later?' A spokeswoman for NSW Police said the Form 1 application had been received by Sydney City Police Area Command and officers were consulting the relevant stakeholders.
