The Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, has raised the prospect of implementing additional restrictions on protests within Sydney's central business district and at major landmarks. Speaking at the Sydney Opera House, Minns expressed concerns about the frequency of demonstrations disrupting city life.
Potential for Stricter Protest Regulations
Minns indicated that his government is considering further changes to protest laws, building upon measures introduced following the Bondi beach terrorist attack in December. Currently, New South Wales operates a notification system where protest organisers must complete a form to inform police of planned demonstrations, providing protection from prosecution for certain offences.
Addressing Weekend Disruptions
The Premier specifically highlighted the issue of repeated weekend protests dominating Sydney's centre. "I do believe we're going to have to confront this idea that the centre of Sydney can be dominated weekend after weekend after weekend by the same protests," Minns stated. He emphasised the need to balance protest rights with public access to the city.
"People have got a right to protest, but other Australians have a right to enjoy the city, go to mass or go to church or go to synagogue through Hyde Park free from trying to navigate a protest every weekend," Minns explained. He added that being the subject of frequent protests could be "particularly confronting and quite divisive."
Focus on Specific Chants and Phrases
Minns has singled out particular slogans for potential prohibition, including the phrase "globalise the intifada." A state parliamentary inquiry has been tasked with reviewing hate speech legislation with specific consideration of this terminology.
The term "intifada," an Arabic word meaning uprising or "shaking off," has been used by pro-Palestine supporters in reference to historical uprisings against Israel. Members of the Jewish community have expressed concerns that such chants constitute calls to violence against Jewish people.
Legal Context and Challenges
The Premier noted that Australia lacks the comprehensive freedom of speech protections found in United States law, which could facilitate certain regulatory measures. However, existing protest restrictions in New South Wales are already facing legal challenges.
"I think that if you've got a country, a multicultural country, people from around the world, races and religions, expecting them to live together, not just in tolerance, but with a shared mission, there's got to be a recognition that you've got different rules for the road in a place like Australia than you do in the US," Minns commented.
Security Considerations and Future Directions
The New South Wales government is also evaluating whether to permit the Jewish community's security organisation, the Community Security Group (CSG), to carry weapons outside premises owned by Jewish organisations. This consideration forms part of broader security discussions following increased tensions.
Minns clarified that no immediate announcements would be made on Australia Day but confirmed that further changes to protest regulations remain under active consideration. "I'm certainly not going to suggest to you all that that's the end of our proposed changes," he concluded, indicating ongoing legislative review in this area.
