Protest restrictions imposed in New South Wales following the Bondi Beach attack have been extended again, limiting venues for rallies just days before Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s arrival in Sydney.
Police say the measures are due to public safety and community tensions, while protest organizers argue the rules are being used to suppress political dissent.
The Public Assembly Restriction Declaration has been extended for another 14 days, covering the Eastern Suburbs policing command and parts of the CBD, although Hyde Park is excluded from the restricted area.
Under the declaration, police will not accept new applications to authorize public assemblies in the designated areas, meaning rallies can still take out place, but without the additional legal protections typically afforded when marches proceed along streets and through intersections.
The restrictions come as political pressure mounts inside Labour, after NSW premier under pressure as Labor MPs join protest against Isaac Herzog’s visit.
Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said on Tuesday: “We want to ensure that freedom of expression is maintained, but we also need to ensure that it’s balanced with community safety.”
Police have also indicated they may issue move-on directions in certain circumstances and require the removal of face coverings.
The action comes as Anthony Albanese’s government prepares to host Herzog following the December 14 shooting at Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah event, which killed 15 people.
Reports on the travel itinerary vary, but Herzog is expected to arrive this weekend, with his official program beginning on February 9 and lasting several days.
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Activists from the Palestine Action Group are planning to gather at Sydney Town Hall and then march towards the NSW Parliament House, a route police say falls within the restricted area.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said the standoff “could and potentially will lead to arrests” unless organizers move to a legal route outside the designated areas.
The matter has also reached the courts. A coalition of groups has filed a challenge in the New South Wales Supreme Court, arguing that the protest laws, hastily enacted after the attack, place an undue burden on political communication.
The Chris Minns government says the rules are necessary to prevent heightened risk and unrest during a period of grief and tension.
