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| Pro-Palestinian protesters told Sydney Opera House 'off-limits' for planned rally |
** ‘The public have had enough’: Australian landmarks under siege from continuous protests
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Pro-Palestinian protesters told Sydney Opera House 'off-limits' for planned rally
ABC
06/10/2025
(See translation in Arabic section)
Sydney-Middle East Times Int'l: NSW Police has urged the Palestinian Action Group to relocate a planned rally at the iconic Sydney Opera House next week.
The group has applied to stage the march from Hyde Park through the city streets to finish on the Opera House forecourt on Sunday, October 12, saying in a post to social media they are demanding the Australian government sanction Israel after "two years of genocide".
A report by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry found Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, an allegation which Israel denies.
The group stated that they plan to protest at the Opera House, considering its long-standing reputation as an anti-war symbol.
However, NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the Opera House was "off-limits" to protesters.
"Going to the Opera House is off-limits, the forecourt is off-limits … the Opera House trust has by-laws that protests are not to occur on the forecourt, and we support that entirely and so do the police," she said.
On October 9, 2023, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters rallied at the Sydney Opera House.
The Opera House sails were lit blue and white in solidarity with Israel following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on the Jewish state, which prompted retaliation that escalated into war.
Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said that while police did not want to prohibit the group from protesting, the location and expected scale of the protest posed public safety concerns.
Police put in a bid to the Supreme Court to stop the rally from going ahead at the Opera House, saying there were limited routes to enter and exit the forecourt.
"They have to have an ability in an emergency to get people out of that location safely.
"That includes people who are there for ticketed events, members of the public, people who might be at the Opera Bar … to get them out," Assistant Commissioner McKenna said.
A summons lodged by the state police commissioner was heard on Friday afternoon by Justice Desmond Fagan in the Supreme Court.
The matter is next set for a hearing on Tuesday, October 7.
‘The public have had enough’: Australian landmarks under siege from continuous protests Story by Sky News Australia
One Nation National Executive Manager Lee Hanson debates protests and free speech in Australia.
There has been a call for limitations on protests at key landmarks to maintain public safety and order, suggesting police enforcement is necessary against incitement and intimidation.
“The public have had enough,” Ms Hanson told Sky News host James Morrow.
“We have this vicious cycle that is going around.
“It is a balance you need to have free speech absolutely but do it at the right place at the right time.” Police 'not anti-protest'
The rally will be held a week after the two-year anniversary of October 7, 2023.
Assistant Commissioner McKenna said emotions could be running high.
"We're not anti-protest … we've been facilitating protests and public assembly for the last two years, so it's not a matter of us not wanting them to have a public assembly," he said.
"It's not even about it being at the Opera House itself — it's about public safety."
Police said ongoing discussions with the rally organisers would continue.
In a statement, the Palestine Action Group said it would not be deterred by attempts to stop the protest, rejecting claims it posed a risk to public safety.
"International human rights law guarantees the right to protest, the right to free expression, and the right to political assembly," it said.
"The attempt to restrict our rally violates these rights and sets a dangerous precedent for all movements for justice."
'It's absolutely abhorrent'
Palestine Action Group spokesperson Amal Naser said NSW Police and the state government tended to weaponise public safety, particularly towards the Arab and Muslim community.
"Police made very similar claims of public safety against us when they claimed to block down the harbour bridge [protest] in Sydney … that protest went ahead successfully without a single injury or arrest," Ms Naser said.
"Arab and Muslim individuals in this country continue to be criminalised and viewed as a security risk and a threat in this country, and it's absolutely abhorrent."
The group has not confirmed whether it will go before the Supreme Court again to contest moves by the police to stop the protest.
In a press conference on Friday, NSW Premier Chris Minns signalled his support for the police's court challenge.
He said police would have a compelling case to present in court.
"That decision is in the hands of NSW Police… they're doing it on safety grounds, they're doing it on fears for the community and security grounds … I think that's absolutely reasonable," he said.
The Australian Jewish Council's Sarah Schwartz backed the protests, saying there had been growing support in the Jewish community for Palestinians who had "nowhere left to go".
"These mass protests send a clear message to the Australian government: we have a moral duty to act," Ms Schwartz said in a statement.
"It is straight up misinformation to suggest that anti-genocide protests represent a threat to Jews.
"The Jewish community is diverse. We speak for an ever growing number of Jews who insist that never again must also mean never again for Palestinians."
Federal Liberal Leader Sussan Ley said the planned protest at the landmark would be "unacceptable".
"Our Opera House should be a place that brings people together, a place of unity, not division and not hate … enough is enough," she said.
"We all want to see the hostages released, the war to end, humanitarian aid to reach the people of Gaza, and an enduring peace to be put in place, and that's where all of our efforts … will and investment should be." |
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