Authorities in Sydney have imposed a sweeping, temporary ban on all public protests, marches, and rallies across large parts of the city for the next fortnight. The unprecedented move follows the recent terror attack at Bondi Beach and was enacted using new emergency powers.
Police Commissioner Announces Sweeping Powers
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon announced the 14-day restrictions late on Wednesday. He declared the South West Metropolitan, North West Metropolitan, and Central Metropolitan policing areas as 'restricted' for any form of public assembly. Under this order, any planned protest will be treated as unauthorised.
Participants will lose protections normally afforded under the Summary Offences Act. This exposes them to potential charges for offences like obstructing traffic or pedestrians. Police will not accept any new applications for protests, and previously approved gatherings have been revoked.
'This is a time for community to come together and to show respect and courtesy, it's not a time for large public assemblies and division,' Commissioner Lanyon stated. 'The community deserves to be safe and feel safe.'
New Police Powers and Community Backlash
The changes are enabled by emergency legislation passed by Parliament, granting the Commissioner powers to impose bans after a declared terrorist incident. 'This declaration is designed to give police the powers to ensure community safety,' Lanyon explained.
While informal gatherings are still technically permitted, police now have enhanced authority. Officers can issue move-on directions to anyone causing obstructions or behaving in an intimidating manner. They also have new power to require individuals suspected of offences to remove face coverings for identification.
However, the crackdown has ignited significant backlash. Advocacy groups including the Palestine Action Group, Jews Against the Occupation, and the Blak Caucus are preparing to mount a constitutional challenge against the new laws.
Lawyer Nick Hanna criticised the ban on Tuesday, stating, 'It unnecessarily infringes on the implied freedom of political communication, which is essentially the freedom of speech we have in this country.'
Political Opposition and Scope Confusion
In Parliament, the NSW Greens opposed the legislation and are supporting the constitutional challenge. Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi criticised the decision, highlighting the peaceful nature of recent assemblies. 'This is a time when unity, solidarity and meaningful leadership are needed, not authoritarianism nor the undermining of democracy,' she said.
Critics have also pointed to confusion regarding the scope of the bans. It remains unclear whether the restrictions apply solely to marching protests or also extend to static gatherings such as vigils and sit-ins.
The restrictions are set to be reviewed after the initial 14-day period. Authorities have the option to renew them fortnightly for up to three months. Commissioner Lanyon concluded, 'We will continue working closely with the government and community leaders to ensure these laws are implemented in a way that strengthens safety and cohesion across our state.'
