The New South Wales Supreme Court has heard that police fear a "crowd crush" if up to 50,000 people attend a pro-Palestine protest planned to march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday. The hearing, brought by the Palestine Action Group, will determine whether the demonstration should be authorised.
Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Adam Johnson told the court that the march, which is due to begin at Lang Park and proceed to the US consulate, posed significant public safety risks. "It will be a real challenge whether it's prohibited or not prohibited," he said. Asked how officers would respond if 50,000 people gathered at Lang Park, Johnson said: "50,000 people at Lang Park whether it's authorised or unauthorised has significant public safety risks."
The protest organiser's barrister, Felicity Graham, pressed Johnson on police contingency plans. He said that if the assembly were not authorised, officers would "encourage people not to come there because it will be dangerous", while adding that police would "do our best in the circumstances to maintain public safety".
The court heard that even if a prohibition order is issued, the protest could still go ahead, but participants would not have immunity from prosecution under the Summary Offences Act. Graham asked whether police required the order to make arrests for obstructing a road; Johnson replied that arrest would be a last resort.
Separate demonstrations are also planned for Sunday, including an anti-antisemitism rally outside the Sydney Harbour Tunnel by the group Never Again is Now.
