Protest ban extended to stop anti-Israeli visit ‘riot’

NSW Police have extended restrictions on public protests ahead of the Australian visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, citing community safety concerns and the risk of unrest in Sydney.

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed on Tuesday, 3rd February, that he had exercised powers allowing him to curb moving protests for up to three months, powers granted following the December 14 Bondi terror attack, in which 15 people were shot dead by two Islamic State-inspired gunmen.

“We want to ensure that free speech is enshrined, but we need to make sure that that is balanced by community safety,” Lanyon said. “I know that there is significant animosity about President Herzog’s visit. I have to balance that.”

The extension means protest organisers cannot obtain authorisation that would normally protect them from offences such as obstructing roads or pedestrians. Protesters can also be issued move-on directions, even if participating in a static demonstration.

More than 3000 police shifts will be deployed to ensure streets are safely patrolled during the visit.

Sydney’s eastern suburbs, described by police as a heartland of Australia’s Jewish community, remain within the restricted zone due to what Lanyon described as ongoing trauma following the Bondi attack. Some parts of the Sydney CBD are exempt.

President Herzog’s four-day visit is due to begin on February 9 after an invitation from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, aimed at showing solidarity with the Jewish community after the Bondi massacre. He will be joined by World Zionist Organisation chairman Yaakov Hagoel and is scheduled to meet senior Jewish leaders, bereaved families, political leaders and members of the media.

The Australia Israel and Jewish Affairs Council said the visit was not only appropriate but also an essential part of the healing process.

Herzog’s visit has been strongly criticised by pro-Palestine activists, who point to past comments in which he suggested Palestinians bore collective responsibility for Hamas’s October 7, 2023, terror attack in Israel. Several religious and legal groups have written to the Australian Federal Police and Attorney-General Michelle Rowland seeking a criminal investigation into those remarks, which were cited in an International Court of Justice case.

Herzog has previously said his remarks were selectively quoted and stripped of their broader context, arguing he was condemning Hamas and addressing the reality of a state under attack, not assigning collective blame to Palestinian civilians.

Nationwide protests are planned in Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and regional centres. In Sydney, organisers from the Palestine Action Group have called for a rally beginning at Town Hall before heading to parliament.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the restrictions were necessary to prevent unrest.

“A reasonable person will look at the circumstances and say, ‘we just can’t have a riot in Sydney,’” Minns said. “Most people would expect the government and the police to ensure that there is public safety during that period.”

Palestine Action Group organisers have encouraged supporters to gather peacefully and proceed to parliament in defiance of the restrictions, accusing authorities of trying to silence opposition.

“It is completely legal to attend this mass, peaceful gathering in opposition to an ongoing genocide,” the group said in a statement.

Lanyon rejected claims he was acting under political pressure, saying the decision to extend the restrictions was his alone and that the Israeli visit was a relevant factor.

“Free speech comes with responsibility. This is a time for calm; this is a time for the community to come together,” he said.

Minns described the limits as reasonable within a democratic society, saying public safety sometimes required keeping opposing groups separated.

Opposition MP Damien Tudehope questioned the government’s approach, arguing that tightening protest laws would not address the causes of extremist violence.

“A person who was radicalised in some way thought it was okay to go to Bondi Beach and start shooting people at a Jewish celebration,” he said. “That father and son weren’t motivated by protests. This wouldn’t be solved by addressing protest laws.”

NSW Police have declared the planned Sydney protest route unauthorised under the current restrictions, saying marches from Town Hall to parliament do not comply with the extended declaration.

Police have indicated they are prepared to facilitate protests in Hyde Park, which remains outside the restricted area.

The protest restrictions have now been extended for a third time, with the current declaration due to be reviewed again next week.

Activists have launched a constitutional challenge to the protest regime in the NSW Supreme Court, arguing the restrictions breach implied protections on political communication. Commissioner Lanyon has warned that participants who attend unauthorised marches outside approved locations may face arrest or fines.

Protesters rallied across Australia on Sunday calling for Herzog’s invitation to be withdrawn, with further demonstrations expected as his visit approaches.