NSW Police remain locked in a battle with pro-Palestine supporters to stop a protest across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with a decision on whether the march can go ahead now delayed until tomorrow.
The Palestine Action Group and NSW Police argued in the Supreme Court today on whether 10,000 protesters should be allowed to walk on the landmark to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza on Sunday.
Justice Belinda Rigg is due to hand down her decision tomorrow.
The Supreme Court will rule today whether a mass protest by pro-Palestinian groups on the Sydney Harbour Bridge can go ahead on Sunday. (SMH/Max Mason-Hubers) (Nine)
As the battle continues, the pro-Israeli movement dubbed “Never again is now” has filed an application for a subsequent protest at the Harbour Tunnel on Sunday.
Down south in Melbourne, pro-Palestine supporters are planning to block the King Street Bridge on Sunday in solidarity with Sydney.
NSW Police are hoping the court blocks 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 Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell told reporters earlier today more than 40,000 vehicles would be affected across the bridge if the protest proceeds.
“It will be in excess of six hours,” he said.
“There’s a complete operation that requires a multi-agency response, including Transport of NSW, that has to redivert these vehicles away, that includes probably foot traffic as well.
“There’s lots of things that need to go into place for us to facilitate what the organisers say is a one-hour operation. There’s no way this is a one-hour operation for police.”
Premier Chris Minns said he recognises thousands of people want to protest and hopes to negotiate with organisers for an alternative route not on the city’s “central 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.”
Premier Chris Minns and NSW Police are hoping the court blocks the protest at the hearing at 12.30pm. (Nine)
There were 15 NSW MPs, including five Labor MPs, who signed a statement in support of the march.
Minns said he would not criticise those MPs but said he would expect everyone in NSW to respect the outcome of today’s court decision.
The Palestine Action Group have offered to push back the protest several weeks to allow police to facilitate the demonstration, but maintains it will 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.”
In 2000, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was the location of a mass protest in support of ‘reconciliation’ between Aboriginal people and non-Indigenous Australia. (Instagram)
The landmark has previously been closed to host a march for reconciliation, marathons, World Pride and to allow Hollywood actor Ryan Gosling to shoot part of his film The Fall Guy.
If the protest goes ahead this weekend, it will be the first time pro-Palestine protesters bring their weekly march to the Harbour Bridge in almost two years since the October 7 attacks.
Thurtell said NSW Police have worked with the Palestine Action Group for more than 100 marches since October 7, 2023.
“We haven’t ever stopped negotiating with these organisers,” he said.
“They know we are an organisation that they can trust and that we will facilitate their marches.
“It just won’t be going over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.”
But organisers insisted this was an “unstoppable” march.
“We hope the police get their act together and get out of the way of the March for Humanity,” Lees said.
