Anthony D'Adam, a New South Wales Labor MP, has accused Premier Chris Minns of taking an 'incredibly dangerous position' on protests, warning that civil liberties would be threatened if police could reject rallies based on cost.
Mr Minns stirred division within the Labor caucus after telling 2GB radio that taxpayers would want police to focus on crime rather than patrolling weekly pro-Palestine protests, which he said cost $5m in 2024.
Mr D'Adam, who was sacked from his parliamentary secretary roles after criticising police tactics at a pro-Palestine demonstration, said the premier had not sought to hide his position on the Israel-Gaza war and that government MPs were afraid to speak out in support of Palestine.
Another Labor MP, speaking anonymously, said they did not see how protests could be lawfully curtailed based on cost and that the premier had devoted far more time to supporting people with ties to Israel than those with connections to Gaza or Lebanon.
Stephen Lawrence, a Labor MP, remarked that mass protests occur in a free society whether authorised or not, citing the 1978 Mardi Gras as a cautionary tale of police disruption.
