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Coronavirus Australia live updates: Activists slam ‘appalling’ Supreme Court protest ban

The NSW Supreme Court’s decision to block a Black Lives Matter protest in Sydney has been slammed by activists as “appalling” and an "abuse of COVID powers".

Sarah McPhee and Benedict Brook
less than 2 min read
June 5, 2020 - 1:32AM
Vic police warns against protesters violating social distancing

Activists have slammed the NSW Supreme Court’s decision to block a Black Lives Matter protest from happening in Sydney tomorrow as “appalling”.

Tarneen Onus-Williams, an organiser of the Black Lives Matter protest planned for Melbourne, told The Age that with the NRL cleared to go ahead with spectators next week, it appeared police and the government were "targeting Aboriginal people".

"The NRL is opening up next week," she said.

"We’re an essential service, saving black lives and protecting black lives is an essential service”.

Barrister Greg Barns SC, who is an adviser to the Australian Assange campaign, also called it an "abuse of COVID powers" and "dangerous in a democracy".

Earlier, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told people not to attend protests this weekend because it would put the "great gains" made against COVID-19 at risk.

MORE: Follow the latest virus news here

Australia has recorded a total 7249 cases of COVID-19, with 3110 in New South Wales, 1681 in Victoria, 1060 in Queensland, 440 in South Australia, 596 in Western Australia, 226 in Tasmania, 107 in the Australian Capital Territory and 29 in the Northern Territory. At least 6664 people have recovered, just over 92 per cent, and the death toll stands at 102.

Updates

Brisbane, Melbourne protests 'going ahead as planned'

The activist group, Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance (WAR), says the protests planned for Melbourne and Brisbane tomorrow are still "going ahead".

"This is a historic, global moment," it said on Facebook.

"We do not have capacity to stop this moment – it is bigger than people organising the protest. This is a global, organic movement."

But the group has stressed that "safety is paramount" and urged people to wear face masks, use hand sanitiser regularly, keep 1.5 metres apart at all times and not to protest in groups of more than 20.

"Within your group of 20 ensure you are 1.5 metres apart. Ensure there is distance between you and the next group of 20," it said.

Protest organiser slams court decision

An organiser of the Black Lives Matter protest planned for Melbourne tomorrow has slammed the NSW Supreme Court's decision as "appalling".

Tarneen Onus-Williams told The Age that with the NRL cleared to go ahead next week, it appeared police and the government were "targeting Aboriginal people".

"The NRL is opening up next week," she said.

"We’re an essential service, saving black lives and protecting black lives is an essential service”.

Barrister Greg Barns SC, who is an adviser to the Australian Assange campaign, called it an "abuse of COVID powers" and "dangerous in a democracy".

Supreme Court rules against planned Sydney protest

The NSW Supreme Court has ruled a planned Black Lives Matter protest in Sydney will be illegal.

"For the court to authorise (the protest) would amount to a defiance of orders made by the government," Justice Desmond Fagan said.

Event organisers told the court they could socially distance and provide hand sanitiser to attendees but Justice Fagan said those measures were not sufficient to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading.

"I cannot accept these proposals take place of the public health order which for the time being prohibits the gathering of more than 10 people," Justice Fagan said.

The court was asked to weigh the right of protesters to gather against the risks of spreading COVID-19 as NSW fights to keep the pandemic at bay.

Current rules in NSW mean 50 people can not gather together for any event.

More than 75 per cent of 10,000 respondents in a news.com.au poll today voted against the planned protests in Melbourne and Sydney.

Vic protest to go ahead despite fines threat

Organisers of Melbourne’s Black Lives Matter rally could face police fines under coronavirus rules, as authorities continue to ask protesters not to attend the civil rights protest.

Thousands of protesters are expected at the rally on Saturday, and Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton says if that happens, each organiser will be fined $1651 because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Fines could also be issued to individuals, according to a police statement.

“In the exercise of police discretion, those who intentionally break the law will be held to account,” the statement said.

Protest organisers Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance stressed safety of the community was paramount while insisting the protest will go ahead as planned.

They asked attendees to wear masks, bring hand sanitiser and protest in groups of 20 while remaining 1.5m apart.

Protesters have also been encouraged to self-quarantine for a few weeks afterwards.

“Governments and police are trying to deflect from their responsibility,” WAR organiser Meriki Onus said.

“Protest is not a choice when so many of our people are murdered at the hands of police and prison guards.”

-AAP

Supreme Court decision on protest still pending

The Supreme Court Decision on whether a proposed Black Lives Matter protest in Sydney will be "deemed illegal" is still being deliberated.

The court has heard that police received a notice of protest for about 50 attendees last Friday but on June 4 that number was changed to about 5000 people.

While giving evidence, event organiser Raul Bassi said he was "sure" he had initially mentioned to police that it was a possibility around 400 0 or 5000 people could attend the event.

Police have argued in court that the protest shouldn't be authorised because of the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Earlier today, NSW Premier said a small protest request was placed with police earlier in the week to take place tomorrow but since then the number of expected attendees have surged.

The police commissioner is seeking an injunction in the Supreme Court on the grounds the rally would breach COVID-19 health orders.

Ms Berejiklian said the protest would be a "flagrant disregard" of social distancing rules.

But indigenous organisers have vowed “we won’t stop”, regardless of what the Supreme Court rules.

A live stream of the Supreme Court hearing can be watched below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u73TRqyd7D0

Restrictions lifted on NRL crowds

The NSW Government will ease restrictions on crowds at NRL matches, with 50 people allowed to attend the games from next week.

Fans will be allowed in specific areas but will have to follow strict social distancing rules.

This change will be allowed in accordance with the easing rules allowing publibs and clubs to have up to 50 patrons while also following the one person per four-square-metre rule.

Mum of David Dungay will march regardless of court ruling

The mother of David Dungay, an Indigenous man who died in Sydney’s Long Bay jail in late 2015, has said she will be marching tomorrow regardless of the Supreme Court ruling on the legality of the protest.

Dungay said "I can't breathe" a dozen times before he died while being held down by five prison guards.

Leetona said racism killed her son and his body was returned with “big monster hands” marked on his back.

“I’m marching for my son," she said about tomorrow's protest.

“Nothing is stopping me – I don’t care if they shoot me."

Virus could add $620b to Australian debt

Australia’s bottom line is expected to be nearly $200 billion in the red next year with no budget surpluses in sight thanks to the coronavirus hit on the economy.

The Parliamentary Budget Office has crunched the numbers on the medium-term impact of the pandemic based on the Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest forecasts.

Its analysis, released on Friday, showed the blowout in next year’s budget – mainly due to spending to support people through the economic crisis – would be between $172 billion and $214 billion.

The government had expected to deliver a modest surplus.

The PBO says the underlying cash balance, or deficit, would still be between $16 billion and $30 billion worse off by 2029/30.

Its ranges are based on the Reserve Bank’s anticipated baseline, best and worst case scenarios for the spread of the virus and need for lockdowns, and don’t take into account the impact of summer’s bushfires.

Government debt in 2029/30 could be between 11 and 18 per cent of GDP ($500 billion to $620 billion) higher.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the PBO analysis highlighted that the heavy spending on support measures like the JobKeeper wage subsidies weren’t the only hit to the budget.

“The coronavirus has hit not just the expenditure side of the budget, but it’s got a massive hit on the revenue side, and that is very, very significant,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“That is why, more than ever, we have to be careful about the expenditure we are engaged in.

“It can’t provide long-lasting heavy burdens on the fiscal side down the track, baked-in expenditure.”

-AAP

Aussies warned not to be 'foolish'

Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy has warned it would be "foolish" to attend Black Lives Matter protests that are planned around the country this weekend.

He said that the virus is still active in the community and having a large number of people together is very risky.

"A mass gathering – even if people try to make it safe by trying to practise distancing and hand hygiene – is inherently dangerous because people can't really keep apart, they can't stop touching each other," Professor Murphy said.

"We don't know who is there. We can't contract trace."

He has pleaded with Australians to respect the coronavirus regulations that are still in place.

"We have done so much, we have sacrificed so much as Australians, to get us in an enviable position of where we are now," he said.

"It would be very foolish to sacrifice by exposing the population to a larger outbreak, all of those gains, or many of those gains, by uncontrolled, large gatherings."

Fines threatened in Victoria

Victoria Police have warned protesters they risk being fined if they attend a planned protest tomorrow in Melbourne.

There were reports earlier this week that police would not be finding people who breach COVID-19 safety rules, but police have since refuted these claims.

"In the exercise of police discretion, those who intentionally break the law will be held to account, and we have again contacted the organisers of the protest this morning to ensure this point is understood," Victoria Police said in a statement.

"As Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius made clear earlier this week, it is our strong preference that the protest does not occur at this time, while the restrictions in relation to public gatherings remain in place.

"There are obvious and potentially dire public health consequences should this event lead to an outbreak of coronavirus."

Police said while it wouldn't be "practical" to issue fines to thousands of protesters, they will not hestitate to issue penalties to organisers and any other people they deem "appropriate".

This comes as Victoria Police deputy commissioner Shane Patton warned protest organisers they will be fined if their event goes ahead.

The Herald Sun reports Mr Patton said he hopes the event doesn't go ahead.

"People have to be held accountable for their actions,” he said.

“We will issue infringements to the organisers."

Mr Patton said the fines would not exceed $1652.

Victoria has already recorded the most fines related to breaches of coronavirus directions.

Since late March in Victoria, individuals have faced fines of $1652 and businesses $9913 for failing to adhere to the chief health officer’s directives “designed to slow the spread of COVID-19”.

In a statement overnight, chief health officer Brett Sutton said the protest carried a "real risk" for all Victorians in the middle of a pandemic.

There are still cases of COVID-19 from community-to-community transmission being recorded in the state.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/coronavirus-australia-live-updates/live-coverage/0b629f5ce1006cd78a4586554952bc2c