A New South Wales supreme court judge has ruled that a pro-Palestine march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge can proceed on Sunday, with legal protections for participants. The bridge will be closed for approximately five hours from 11:30am, and police are mobilising additional resources to manage the event, which could draw up to 50,000 people.
Justice Belinda Rigg stated that the march is motivated by a belief that 'the horror and urgency of the situation in Gaza demands an urgent and extraordinary response from the people of the world'. She noted significant public support for the demonstration and rejected police concerns about insufficient preparation time and potential crowd crushes, saying inconvenience alone is not enough to deny the protest.
Police had initially rejected the organisers' application, citing traffic management issues and safety risks. However, following the court's decision, Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna said police would enforce the law and facilitate a safe protest while acting against any antisocial behaviour. Public order units, mounted police, and traffic patrols will be deployed.
The Palestine Action Group, which organised the event, hailed the ruling as 'absolutely historic' and promised a family-friendly, safe event. Participants will have immunity from certain offences under the Summary Offences Act, such as obstructing traffic, but police retain powers to address antisocial behaviour or prohibited symbols.
Officials warn of significant disruption to roads and public transport, though trains will continue to run across the bridge. Police Minister Yasmin Catley accepted the court's decision and urged protesters to remain peaceful and follow police instructions.
