Image: Photo: palestineactiongroup / Instagram
The New South Wales government has rejected a controversial bill that would have required organisers of frequent protests to have to pay for police resources.
The bill, proposed by the opposition in February, aimed to introduce a “user pays” system whereby protest groups holding more than three demonstrations per year would be liable for policing costs.
“We’ve seen millions of dollars being spent on policing instead of on health, education and public transport,” said Shadow Attorney-General Alister Henskens, who attempted to bring on debate for a bill. “There’s been a huge drain on our policing resources.”
He stressed that the bill was not about the subject of any specific protest, but rather about clarifying how courts determine public interest.
“This bill is not taking any side on the issues that were subject of the protest on Sunday,” he said. “The current legislation does not give any guidance to courts as to how they are to determine the public interest.”
However, the Labor government voted against debating the proposal, which has effectively killed the bill. Premier Chris Minns said that senior government counsel held a “strong view” that the bill could be “unconstitutional.”
Minns acknowledged that the repeated closure of major infrastructure like the Harbour Bridge could disrupt city operations.
“We can’t have open season on the bridge,” he said in an interview with ABC News. “We need to have some kind of orderly process where we balance people’s rights to have a protest in Sydney … without closing down critical infrastructure.”
Labor’s division on protest laws surfaces
Despite the government’s rejection of the bill, Minns’ own ambiguous stance on protests has caused internal tensions. At least a dozen Labor MPs reportedly expressed concern during a caucus meeting.
Before the massive pro-Palestinian rally last weekend, Minns attempted to block the protest on public safety grounds. The event was attended by between 200,000 and 300,000 people, said the event organisers.
However, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the march, prioritising freedom of expression. The rally went ahead, with several Labor MPs, including Penny Sharpe and Jihad Dib, joining demonstrators.
According to The Guardian, a motion led by left-wing MPs originally sought to condemn the destruction in Gaza and propose a human rights bill. It was eventually watered down to a more modest version.
“We should recognise the voices of protesters rather than prioritise urban order,” said one Labor MP anonymously, adding that Minns gave “the impression of picking sides” in the conflict.
Prior to the protest, 72 organisations signed an open letter to the government. The signatories, including all major NSW trade unions and civil rights groups, urged respect for the right to protest and criticised what they called the premier’s “anti-protest agenda.”
Following last weekend’s massive rally, organisers are urging the public to return to the streets this Sunday, calling for federal sanctions on Israel and an end to two-way arms trade.
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