1000 cops, $2m: What pro-Palestine protests will cost you this weekend
More than 1000 police will be required on both Sunday and Monday in Sydney as police boost numbers preparing for October 7 anniversary protests and vigils.
NSW
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Fears of hostility and growing tension have forced NSW Police to deploy more than 1000 officers for protests and vigils in Sydney over the next few days — with taxpayers footing the multimillion-dollar bill.
The figure comes at a time when force numbers are stretched thin, and will result in specialist units having to move away from their regular duties.
The Daily Telegraph understands more than 1000 police are now on standby for both Sunday and Monday, with taxpayers set to be slugged up to $2 million.
Up to 15,000 people attached to the Palestine Action Group are expected to march through the Sydney CBD on Sunday.
The group reached an 11th-hour deal with police after agreeing to a revised route, which would avoid Sydney’s Great Synagogue.
Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna initially warned a march close to the Great Synagogue “could be a tinderbox.”
Pro-Palestinians will also be holding a “vigil” on Monday.
Police Commissioner Karen Webb said NSW Police will “surge” resources across Sydney this weekend.
Mr McKenna said resources required to man the protests would not impact other areas of policing.
“We’re a 24/7 organisation, we work right across the state every day and every night, we will have police resources,” he said.
Prominent Muslim leader Dr Jamal Rifi called on all those protesting over the weekend to be “sensible and sensitive”.
“They should be sensible and sensitive about the congregations and other Australians that have also been as hurt as we are for their loved ones,” he said.
“We are all grieving over the senseless killing that has gone on for far longer than it needs to.
“I hope these events won’t be provocative to anyone.”
LAKEMBA MOSQUE RALLY
Police have also authorised a “rally for Palestine and Lebanon” at Lakemba mosque on Monday and will allow it to go ahead, after “lots of negotiation” with the organiser.
The rally has been authorised despite the involvement of extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is listed as a partner of the event.
Police will have an “appropriate” presence at the event, Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said.
Ms Webb said the commander for the area authorised the rally, which she said was “appropriate”.
The rally is being promoted on October 7 from 5:30pm, with a poster for the event reading: “1 year of resilience.”
On the same date, October 7, members of Sydney’s Jewish community will come together to commemorate one year since the horrific massacre by Hamas on Israel, which killed 1,200 people.
‘GROSSLY INSENSITIVE’
Premier Chris Minns has slammed the Palestinian vigil on October 7, saying: “I don’t think it is appropriate. That’s my personal view. To hold a protest or a rally on the day when people were massacred on the other side of the world is grossly insensitive.”
Another police source said “every one of those 1000 police will be necessary. We don’t want to see the scenes of last year.”
The major police fear is a repeat of what happened a year ago – when the sails of the Opera House were lit in the colours of the Israeli flag as a show of support after the Hamas attack.
The rally turned hostile later in the night, with some protesters marching to the Opera House steps where they burnt flags and chanted anti-Semitic remarks – including “f**k the Jews.”
This Sunday police are also in heavy numbers at the NRL Grand Final at Homebush and a music festival at Centennial Park, although both events are “user pays”, meaning taxpayers aren’t on the hook for the cost.
It comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed there were roughly 1500 vacancies in the force and some local stations have 50 officers below their operational capacity.
Opposition Police Spokesperson Paul Toole said taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for the weekly protests
“The total cost of policing these pro-Palestinian protests are exorbitant” he said.
“For 1000 police at the cost of $1 million is ridiculous. Our police are being paid overtime, called in from other commands … all at a time we are short. It is burning people out.
“These protesters should be paying for the cost of these protests. It should be a user-pay system. It can’t continue.”
Police Minister Yasmin Catley fired back late on Friday: “as the Opposition Leader (Mark Speakman) made clear earlier this week, people have the right to protest. But, if anyone breaks the law, they can expect to be arrested.”
“Police will be out in large numbers and will resource according to intelligence and the number of people expected to attend events across the weekend. There will be a highly visible police presence across the city. We don’t want to see the conflict in the Middle East play out on our streets in Sydney.”
Protesters have also been warned against displaying prohibited symbols after previous rallies in Sydney and Melbourne saw Australians waving Hezbollah flags despite the Lebanese militant group being a designated terrorist organisation.
“In Australia, there are offences that prohibit behaviour that incites or advocates violence or hatred based on race and religion, including the display of prohibited symbols in public under these circumstances,” the joint statement said.
“It is also a serious offence to counsel, promote, encourage, urge, instruct or praise terrorism.”
‘GENUINE CONCERNS’: MINNS
The Premier had backed police efforts to seek a Supreme Court challenge to stop pro-Palestine rallies from occurring on the long weekend, due to concerns there was a “high prospect of conflict” on Sydney streets.
Speaking to the media on Friday Mr Minns reiterated that he was not attempting to restrict free speech.
“The application in court was crystal clear, this was not an attempt to restrict freedom of speech in Sydney. It was genuine community concerns about safety on Sydney streets and an attempt to stop a conflict on those streets,” he said.
State, territory and federal police put out a joint statement warning protesters “there will be no tolerance for illegal behaviour or violence” ahead of October 7 as pro-Palestinian vigil organisers vow to go ahead with their planned events.’
ORGANISERS DEFEND VIGIL
On Friday afternoon, organisers of Monday’s controversial pro-Palestine vigil defended their decision to hold the rally on October 7.
Palestine Action Group organiser Amal Naser said it was “offensive” to imply the Monday vigil would be a “scary, violent protest,” maintaining it was “going to be a peaceful event.”
When asked by reporters how they will ensure the candlelight event does not evolve into a rally, Ms Naser said she “rejected” the idea of a protest being unauthorised.
“Protest is a right in this country. Under international law we have a right to demonstrate. We don’t actually have to ask our government for permission to protest against them,” she said.
Ms Naser hit back at Mr Minns’ condemnation of their October 7 vigil, stating: “It’s very clear that Chris Minns has rejected the dignity and the humanity of the Arab people in this country, and he certainly does not represent us.”
Organisers confirmed there will be speakers at the candlelight vigil, but would not disclose who they would be.
“We haven’t confirmed the list yet but there will be speakers from all different faith communities, from the Muslim community, the Christian community and the Jewish community,” said Josh Lees, another spokesperson for the action group.
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