Police and Transport for NSW are “scrambling” to get resources and communications together after the Supreme Court decided it will not stop a pro-Palestine protest across the Sydney Harbour Bridge from going ahead tomorrow.
Justice Belinda Rigg said the court would not be blocking the Palestine Action Group’s application to protest on the Harbour Bridge, despite police and the NSW Government trying to halt the rally.
Rigg said; “The application by the (police) commissioner should be refused” in court today while handing down the decison.”
NSW Police ‘accept’ Supreme Court decision
Josh Lees speaks to reporters outside the supreme court after winning the right to march across Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of Palestine tomorrow. (Max Mason-Hubers)
NSW Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna told the media this afternoon that they have accepted the decision and are working with the protest organisers to ensure a safe rally.
“We ask all the participants listen to police, be respectful, there will be large crowds. we will have to facilitate this carefully,” he said.
“Nothing changes for us in the fact that people who come in to do the right thing and have a safe protest, then we will facilitate that, we will work with them.
“But if people come in to commit any type of offences, any anti-social behaviour or anything else that puts the public safety at risk, we will have no hesitation to take action.”
He said NSW Police officers from a range of different areas will be brought in to facilitate the rally.
Amal Naser speaks to reporters outside the supreme court after winning the right to march across Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of Palestine tomorrow. (Max Mason-Hubers)
He said police and NSW Transport will now have to “scramble” to let the public know about road closures.
More than 10,000 protestors are expected to show up.
The Palestine Action Group had offered to push back the protest several weeks, but maintained it would oppose police blocking the protest entirely in court.
“This is an iconic symbol in Australia and we know a mass march over our Sydney Harbour Bridge will send the most powerful message we possibly can to Israel to stop this genocide, to the people of Gaza, that the whole world has not forgotten them,” organiser Josh Lees told media outside court today.
“It’s a message to our own government as well.”
“Everyone who comes tomorrow to that protest tomorrow and has been partof that movement can say they stood on the right side of history and did everything in their power to stop the horrific scenes in Gaza.”
A spokesman for the NSW Jewish board of deputies said it “acknowledged with disappointment the decision”.
The Jewish Council of Australia backed the march.
When will the Harbour Bridge close?
Transport for NSW Executive Director for Operations Management Craig Moran said the Sydney Harbour Bridge will be closed from about 11.30am on Sunday.
The closures will affect public bus routes as the entire bridge is shut.
Transport for NSW are aiming to reopen the bridge by 4pm, but have warned it could be later than that.
Around 10,000 protestors want to walk across the bridge. (AP)
”Buses [will be] terminating around the North Sydney and Saint Leonards area on the north side, and of course in the CBD on the south side,” Moran said.
“If you really do need to drive to get to essential places like Sydney Airport, we’d strongly encourage that you consider alternate routes such as Gladesville Bridge and Victoria Road.”
Transport for NSW believes more than 40,000 motorists will be impacted by the closures.
Sydneysiders have been told to avoid the city if possible, as there will be significant traffic and effects from the bridge closure.
“The Sydney Harbour Bridge closure will have a flow-on effect across the road and public transport network throughout the day,” Transport NSW said in a statement.
Transport for NSW believes more than 40,000 motorists will be impacted by the closures. (Nine)
“Other roads in the Sydney CBD and North Sydney will also be closed at various points during the day and there will also be a significant amount of congestion in the Sydney CBD and North Sydney, and potentially surrounding areas.
“There will be extensive queues in both directions to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel which will extend to the Western Distributor, Anzac Bridge, Rozelle Interchange as well as Eastern Distributor in the south, and also the Gore Hill Freeway and Lane Cove Tunnel and all of the roads linking into these major corridors.”
The Sydney Metro will also be down tomorrow due to planned trackworks, ruling out a major public transport route across the harbour.
It is unclear if the train line over the bridge will be impacted.
Minns’ government accepts decision
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the government accepts the Supreme Court’s decision not to block the protest.
She also warned that there will be massive delays and disruptions.
“People just need to be patient… and understand a court decision has been made,” she said.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the government accepts the Supreme Court’s decision not to block the protest. (Wolter Peeters)
Yesterday, Premier Chris Minns said he understands people want to protest, but didn’t want to shut the city’s main artery.
“The last thing we want, and the last thing police want, is chaos in Sydney streets,” he said.
“We recognise people want to protest. We’re hoping, depending on the outcome of the court case this afternoon, common sense can prevail.”
He has not yet made a statement following the court’s decision.
The decision, as to whether or not the group would be allowed to protest on the Harbour tomorrow, was supposed to be handed down yesterday, but was delayed until this morning.
Police still hold safety concerns
NSW Police Acting Commissioner Peter Thurtell told reporters yesterday that closing the bridge for the protest would impact 40,000 drivers.
NSW Police officers from a range of different areas will be brought in to facilitate the rally. (Getty)
Police were hoping the court would block the protest, saying they were not given enough notice to plan a multi-agency response and that the protest poses a risk to the public and officers.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Adam Johnson said he still holds some safety concerns following the decision, but he is working with protest organisers to solve them.
He said the protest organiser was being “agreeable” over crowd crush concerns and they were looking at possibly changing the starting point of the protest.
