A pro-Palestinian advocacy group still hopes to march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge this weekend despite court action, as infighting breaks out within the NSW Labor government ranks.
Mr Minns faces internal criticism from two Labor MPs who have suggested political overreach by stating a pro-Palestinian protest using the bridge on Sunday should not go ahead.
Upper house Labor MP Stephen Lawrence told ABC Radio Sydney the premier’s comments against the demonstration amounted to political interference.
“I back our police and I think they should be left to do their important operational work without this high-level political interference,” Mr Lawrence said.
“I think it’s difficult to construe such adamant and categorical statements for a person of particular high political authority at such a time in any other way than a form of interference, not least because it can taint how these things are perceived in the community.”
Labor MP Stephen Lawrence has spoken out about Chris Minns’s opposition to the protest. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)
Police go to Supreme Court
The Palestine Action Group is seeking to hold a march of up to 10,000 people across the bridge, arguing the iconic landmark would send a powerful message to the world about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
But NSW Police have rejected an application by organisers due to public safety concerns and confirmed a summons would be filed in the Supreme Court to legally prohibit the protest.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna told 2GB that police had suggested alternative locations to the organisers.
“I understand it is an iconic part of Sydney and infrastructure and it does give them [protesters] their time in the limelight,” he said.
“I’m sympathetic to their cause, as we always are, but we’re the NSW Police Force. We don’t get into the politics of it.
“Unfortunately, on this occasion we have to say the public safety matter will take precedence.”
Despite police warnings, the group posted on its Instagram page on Wednesday afternoon: “We are still marching on Sunday.”
Josh Lees from Palestine Action Group Sydney. (ABC News: Ethan Rix)
Josh Lees, from Palestine Action Group, said its plans to march across the bridge were still in train.
Mr Lees had confidence that the group would overcome any court challenge.
“Even though Chris Minns thinks he gets to decide when we get to protest, thankfully, we don’t live in a dictatorship,” he said.
“It’s not all up to Chris Minns, it’s not all up to the police. We are going to fight for our democratic right for tens and tens of thousands of Sydneysiders, to be able to walk on our bridge in order to oppose a genocide.
“Our plan is to win the case and march over the Sydney Harbour Bridge”.
Mr Lees said there were Sydney residents all over the city, not just those involved with the advocacy group, who were determined to march over the bridge “whether or not it’s authorised or not”, describing Sunday’s march efforts as “an unstoppable tidal wave of humanity”.
Minns shrugs off own party criticism
Anthony D’Adam says the bridge is a suitable place for a protest march. (ABC News: Abubakr Sajid)
Labor MP Anthony D’Adam said he believed the harbour bridge was a suitable place for the demonstration and took aim at the premier’s intervention.
“No doubt the organisers of the protest are trying to create a dramatisation to amplify the urgency of the situation, and I think that’s legitimate and I think the harbour bridge is an iconic location and is a suitable place to enable that protest to achieve that end,” he said.
“These are operational matters and best left for the police to make those decisions. When the political leadership of the state makes comments that limit the police’s ability to do their job then you can draw your own conclusions.”
Mr Minns was heckled by by pro-Palestinian protesters in Tweed Heads. (ABC News)
Mr Minns was also heckled by pro-Palestinian protesters during a town hall-style meeting on Wednesday with locals in Tweed Heads on the state’s far north.
Five people were quickly escorted out of the venue by police after they protested from the audience, raising concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The premier has shrugged off the criticism, saying while he appreciates and recognises many people in the state are “very concerned about the humanitarian aid crisis in Gaza” closing down the bridge is too logistically challenging.
“I’m not suggesting that the motives of the protesters are wrong or misplaced. I completely accept that many people living in New South Wales would want to protest this situation,” Mr Minns said.
“My point, and it’s an important one, is to close down the harbour bridge, which has happened maybe two or three times in a decade, is a logistical and communications Everest. It’s incredibly difficult to do.”
Protest organisers have vowed to challenge the court action.