Planned pro-Palestine protests this weekend in Sydney will be allowed to proceed after organisers and NSW Police reached an agreement.
It comes as the Australian Federal Police and all state and territory police forces issued a joint statement ahead of the expected pro-Palestine protests in Sydney.
In the, police said there would be “no tolerance for illegal behaviour or violence on any day of the year”.
Background
, NSW Police made a legal bid to stop planned pro-Palestine protests in Sydney from taking place this long weekend.
State rules specify that organisers of a rally need to inform NSW Police about the plans, including expected crowd size and planned route.
The protest is then either approved or an application is filed to block the protest.
In this case, NSW Police said they weren’t “satisfied that the protest could proceed safely.”
The Palestine Action Group Sydney, organisers of the protest, said this was an “attack on fundamental democratic rights”.
NSW Police issued an application in the NSW Supreme Court to stop the protests, citing “public safety concerns”.
Supreme Court
Following the Supreme Court hearing earlier this week, protest organisers reached an agreement with state police. This includes altering the route of the rally planned for 6 October, which will no longer go past the Great Synagogue.
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Organisers also agreed to ensure that no flags, images, or symbols connected to listed terrorist organisations will be shown.
In a post to social media, the group said that while it does not “agree with these laws” it wants people to avoid “serious legal trouble”.
October 7 event
The Palestine Action Group Sydney has also planned a “candlelight vigil” event on 7 October, which is the one-year anniversary of
Organisers initially submitted the relevant paperwork to authorise this public gathering, but according to police, that has since been withdrawn.
Today, state police said: “The law tells us that, in NSW, people have a democratic right to hold public assemblies. If there is no reason for police to intervene, then we won’t intervene. But if there is, certainly we’ll be there, ready to go.”
On the planned event, NSW Premier Chris Minns said: “I remain of the view that it is hugely insensitive, at best, to hold a planned vigil” on 7 October.
Joint statement
Overnight, Australian police forces from across the country issued a rare joint statement.
It said while police “respect the right to peacefully protest and assemble in Australia”, there will be “no tolerance” for illegal behaviour or violence.
The statement added: “Police will not hesitate to take appropriate action against anyone who commits a criminal offence.”
