The NSW Supreme Court is set to hear an urgent challenge on Monday 9 February over the state’s decision to grant extra police powers during Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit as organisers press ahead with a planned protest march through central Sydney.
The Palestine Action Group is trying to overturn the major incident declaration made on Saturday which brings expanded powers to police in parts of the Sydney CBD and eastern suburbs.
Under the Major Events Act, people who do not follow police directions can face fines of up to $5,500.
As well as the major incident declaration, NSW Police have also extended the public gathering restriction declaration for the CBD and parts of the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command, except Hyde Park until Tuesday 17 February.
Police say Form 1 applications will not be accepted in designated areas and warn that a planned march from the Town Hall to Parliament House will not have the usual protection under the Summary Offenses Act for street marches.
Organisers have rejected police requests to shift the route away from the restricted zone insisting the crowd will gather at Sydney Town Hall before moving towards NSW Parliament.
Palestine Action Group organizer Josh Lees said that “We will not be sent to a park on a dark night, out of sight, out of mind.”
Police say they have tried to negotiate an alternative route and warned there will be a large operation in place.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said in a police statement, “We are asking organizers to work with us and comply with the declaration so that the peaceful march can be held safely.”
Premier Chris Minns has argued the special measures are about public safety and keeping different groups apart with authorities flagging significant traffic changes and disruption in the CBD.
Officials have said about 3,000 police will be deployed across Sydney during the visit, including 500 assigned to the Monday night protest, and the ABC has reported road closures across the CBD and eastern suburbs through to Thursday.
Herzog is due to begin his Australian gig in Sydney on Monday, after being invited by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following the anti-Semitic terrorist attack on Bondi Beach on December 14 that killed 15 people.
The visit has drawn strong views with protests planned in multiple cities as well as calls from some groups for the invitation to be withdrawn.
