NSW Premier gives police anti-drone powers for ASEAN summit in Sydney

NSW is set to invoke special powers to prevent drones flying over the Sydney CBD during the ASEAN summit.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is set to invoke special powers to prevent drones flying over the Sydney CBD and lower north shore and to allow police to stop, search and impound cars during the ASEAN summit in Sydney next weekend.

NSW Governor David Hurley will be asked to sign off this week on powers which, from Thursday to Monday, will allow police to prevent people from flying drones and the Australian Defence Force will have the authority to “take action against hostile aircraft” in a no-fly zone over the designated area.

Police will also have the power to stop and search people in the area covering most of the CBD and Kirribilli, to shut roads for up to three days without prior notification and to remove cars from the streets.

The Australian has been told some state bureaucrats expressed concern about invoking the ­powers — which have previously been used only for sports events in NSW — but the Premier made sure they were put in place.

The ASEAN summit this weekend involves the attendance of South Asian heads of state, and 500 Australian business leaders.

It is the biggest event in Sydney since the APEC summit of 2007. “These special arrangements will ensure NSW Police have the ­powers they need to keep our ­community and visitors safe ­during the summit. It is an event of global significance and the security arrangements must match this,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Police Minister Troy Grant said: “With the national terrorism threat level at ‘probable’, these special arrangements will help NSW Police maintain their strong track record of successful security arrangements for major events.”

It is understood the attempt to stop drones is to make sure no flying objects can go near “internationally protected persons”.

Those attending the ASEAN-Australia special summit include the leaders of Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar and Brunei as well as Malcolm Turnbull, with 3000 people ­attending in all.

The meeting includes a business summit, a counter-terrorism conference and other high-level meetings and events.

This is the most significant ­global event, security-wise, to be held in Sydney since the APEC Summit in 2007 (which had special legislation governing the event) with ASEAN, as a grouping, our third- largest trading partner.

NSW Police requested the summit be declared a “major event” under the Major Events Act 2009, providing for special temporary powers to ensure the safety and security of the community and special visitors.

The Premier signed off on the proposal on Friday and it will go to the Governor on Wednesday for final approval.

The powers have been invoked only on a very limited number of occasions in the past, including during the Cricket World Cup and Asian Cup soccer.

The powers cover most of the CBD and Kirribilli — from ­Pyrmont to Woolloomooloo and East Sydney and Goulburn Street to the south.

There is a complete “no-fly zone”’ in the designated area, ­including provision for police to order people not to fly drones.

This is in addition to provisions the Premier has previously signed off on for the ADF to take action against hostile aircraft in the area for the duration of the summit.

There is also the power to erect cordons without prior notice.