Premier Peter Malinauskas calls on organisers to cancel ‘reckless’ October 7 pro-Palestinian protest

The Premier says banning the October 7 protest stunt would be akin to a move by Hamas or Putin as he called on organisers to do the right thing themselves.

Premier Peter Malinauskas has described Monday’s planned October 7 pro-Palestinian protest as “reckless, irresponsible and insensitive” and called on organisers to cancel the rally.

Speaking exclusively to The Advertiser, Mr Malinauskas said if the protesters abused their right to protest by displaying terrorist symbols or epitaphs of terrorist leaders they would be breaking the law and police would take action.

“I think the people behind this protest are doing their cause a massive disservice,” he said.

“They’re not winning the hearts and minds of everyday Australians and I ask that they pull their head in and cancel it.”

However, Mr Malinauskas said it was not up to politicians to intervene.

“I don’t want to live in a world where politicians are picking and choosing what protests go ahead and which ones don’t,” he said.

“That’s what Putin’s Russia looks like. That’s what Hamas’s Gaza looks like.

“We live in a Liberal democracy where there is a right to protest, even if I fundamentally disagree with the merits of the protest, which is certainly the case in this instance.”

It comes as proposed new laws that would make it easier to ban rallies such as the October 7 pro-Palestinian protest are expected to be introduced into state parliament by the end of the year.

Independent MLC Frank Pangallo said he would draft amendments to the Public Assemblies Act to widen the criteria by which the Police Commissioner can prohibit a rally.

MP Frank Pangallo says laws should be toughed to Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Under the Act, the police commissioner has the authority to stop a protest however he can only do so on the grounds that the planned action would “unduly prejudice any public interest”.

SA Police on Thursday said it looked into whether the commissioner should ban Monday’s anti-Jewish rally, which is taking place on the steps of Parliament House, but it ultimately decided the protest did not reach the threshold for prohibition.

Mr Pangallo, who was vocal in opposing controversial protest laws last year, said the Act needed to changed to give wider scope to the commissioner to crack down on such protests.

“You can’t have these protests or rallies whereby other members of the community are going to be fearful for their safety or it causes them mental harm or anguish through hate speech,” he said.

“I’m not against having these assemblies and protests at Parliament House but not when they will provoke other members of the community, particularly the Jewish community, and incite hatred and hate speech.

“It’s important if its causing harm to communities, that needs to be taken into account.”

Opposition leader Vincent Tarzia. Picture: NewsWire / Ben Clark

Premier Peter Malinauskas. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Mr Pangallo said he hoped to introduce his amendments, which would widen the criteria for banning protests to include events that would cause harm, mental anguish or fear, into parliament by the end of the year.

He also said he was planning to draft amendments to the new hate symbol laws that came into effect in August this year to ban the public display of Nazi swastikas or performing a Nazi salute.

Mr Pangallo said he wants to expand these laws to cover the display of symbols and insignia of prescribed terrorist organisations, such as Hezbollah and ISIS.

Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia acknowledge that October 7 was “an incredibly difficult day for many”.

“We respect the right to assemble peacefully, but where there is any evidence that these protests are intended to support any listed terrorist organisation under federal law, the Premier should cancel this event,” he said.