Pro-Palestine Protesters Could Face Supreme Court Over Opera House Protest

NSW Police may be taking pro-Palestine protesters to the Supreme Court in an effort to stop a planned rally at the Sydney Opera House forecourt.

The organisers of the event, Palestine Action Group, submitted a formal notice to hold a march through the city to the Opera House on October 12 to “mark two years of genocide” since Israel launched its military offensive on Palestine following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

Speaking to media on Friday morning, Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna cited public safety concerns as the reason for police opposition, saying the Opera House is unable to facilitate the large number of people expected to attend the protest. 

“They have to have an ability in an emergency, to get people out of that location safely. That includes people who are there for ticketed events, members of the public, people who might be at the Opera Bar, the Wilson’s car park… There [are] only a couple of very small pinch points which they are able to safely get people out from there.”

McKenna said NSW Police were in ongoing discussions with organisers, and were awaiting their response as to whether they would consider alternative routes or take the matter to  the Supreme Court.

“We facilitate thousands of protests, and in fact, with this particular group, we’ve been facilitating protests and public assemblies for the last two years,” he said. “So it’s not a matter of us not wanting them to have a public assembly.”

Opposition leader, police minister, oppose protest

This is the second time the Palestine Action Group have been taken to the Supreme Court this year. In July, Premier Chris Minns lost a bid to block a march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which saw crowds of 300,000 people in a landmark anti-war action.

Speaking on Thursday, Minns declined to comment.

“I am not going to offer public commentary before they’ve [police and protest organisers] spoken, if for no other reason that I don’t want to draw attention to the organisers that seem to thrive on the notoriety of it all,” he said.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley told 2GB on Friday that she opposed next weekend’s protest, but that the decision ultimately rested with the NSW Police.

“We have to remember they are the experts here, they will base everything on public safety and operational grounds,” she said. “This is a matter for the police, they make decisions about protests, not politicians.”

Speaking at a press conference in Perth, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the Opera House should be a “place of unity, not division and not hate.”

“Enough is enough. Everyone involved thinking of protesting should remember this, there is a US brokered peace plan on the table. It is our best chance of peace in this troubled region…  that’s where all of our efforts and our will and our investment should be, not in sowing the seeds of division and hate.”