02-08-2025
‘Massive disruption': Police issue major warning as pro-Palestinian demonstrators prepare to shut down Harbour Bridge sparking commuter chaos
Motorists have been warned to prepare for the worst with authorities forced to shut countless arterial roads as thousands of demonstrators gear up to march across Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge.
On Saturday NSW Police and Premier Chris Minns were handed a significant blow after Supreme Court Justice Belinda Rigg rejected an application to deem the Palestine Action Group's Sydney Harbour Bridge demonstration unlawful.
Despite police stating the march would put 'public safety' in jeopardy and force the city to a grinding halt, Justice Rigg said the right to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech outweighed any other argument.
'The application by the commissioner should be refused,' she said in her judgment with protestors also afforded immunity from a litany of offences including blocking or obstructing traffic or pedestrians.
The last-minute court ruling has left authorities scrambling as Police Minister Yasmine Catley pleaded for Sydneysiders to avoid using the Harbour Bridge at all costs.
'Make no mistake there is going to be massive, massive disruption ... there will be significant delays,' Ms Catley said.
Protestors are expected to congregate as Sydney's Lang Park and will stream across the Harbour Bridge from 1pm onwards.
The bridge will be closed in both directions between 11.30am and 4pm on Sunday afternoon, with the march set to last more than three hours in total.
According to organisers Palestine Action Group the protest will begin at York and Grosvenor streets at 1:30pm with demonstrators then crossing the bridge and finishing up their march at Bradfield Park, North Sydney.
Organisers believe over 50,000 people could attend the protest.
Conditions are set to stay soggy and wet with 10 to 35mm of showers forecasted by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Police are urging commuters to steer clear of the CBD completely, and to expect severe traffic delays with the protest not only set to impact the bridge but causing a flow on effect throughout the entire public transport and road network.
'There will be significant delays and disruption so if you must travel, allow plenty of additional journey time, particularly for any critical travel, such as going to the Airport,' police said in a statement.
Authorities have warned of "extensive queues" in both directions of the Sydney Harbour Bride and Tunnel which will extend to the Western Distributor, Anzac Bridge and the Rozelle Interchange as well as the Eastern Distributor in the south and the Gore Hill Freeway and Lane Cove Tunnel in the north.
Major CBD corridors including York Street, Clarence Street, the Cahill Expressway, the Western Distributor and Grosvenor Street will be closed in addition to substantial chunks of the Pacific Highway, Blue Street and Lavender Street.
Bus services using the brige will terminate at either North Sydney or Wynward between 11:30am and 4pm with trains set to run as normal.
However Transport NSW has warned of protracted delays to the rail network.
The Metro will also be closed for planned trackwork's, and the L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford light rail will truncate at Town Hall.
Police have launched a high-visibility response to the planned demonstration with Acting Deputy Commissioner Mckenna stating 'the whole gambit of police' will be in attendance' and would be 'right along the route' of the march.
'Police will have a high-visibility presence at the operation today and will work with participants to ensure there are no breaches of the peace,' Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Adam Johnson said at a press conference on Sunday.
'Any unlawful or dangerous behaviour will not be tolerated or any actions that risk the safety of others. Police will not hesitate to take appropriate action against anyone who commits a criminal offence,' he said.
Hundreds of officers will be deployed from local and specialist commands and will be briefed from 8am with the aim of keeping the public safe and limiting interruptions where possible.
Aciting Deputy Commissioner McKenna reiterated that protestors were not exempt from numerous charged.
"They're not exempt from malicious damage, they're not exempt from assaults, they're not exempt from hate speeches, hate crime, that sort of thing," he said.
Palestine Action Group organiser and media spokesperson Josh Lees remained defiant amid fierce scrutiny and said the Supreme Court's decision was 'absolutely mind blowing."
He said there was an intense 'urgency to this situation' in regard to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
