Premiers say green light for pro-Palestine protests, red light for anti-Semites, terrorist supporters

The NSW and Victorian governments have given weekly pro-Palestine protests a green light even as a ceasefire neared but vowed to arrest any Jew haters or terrorist supporters.

Pro-Palestinian protesters at a rally in Melbourne in October.

The premiers of Australia’s two most populous states, both targets of recent and routine anti-Semitic attacks, have given pro-Palestine protests a green light even as a ceasefire neared but vowed to arrest any Jew haters or terrorist supporters.

Anthony Albanese warned on Friday that “professional protesters” needed to ensure they “cooled” societal tensions as The Australian revealed they would work to block Labor’s attempts to take the Middle East off the election agenda post-ceasefire, vowing to keep marching indefinitely.

It comes as Sydney was rocked by another anti-Semitic attack in which cars were torched and a former home of a Jewish leader was vandalised, but as pro-Palestine protests appeared set to dominate state capitals on the weekend despite a looming ceasefire in Gaza.

Business leaders also have raised the alarm, saying the weekly protests discouraged families from venturing into the CBD and that the activism would have no impact on bringing peace to the Middle East.

The Prime Minister dismissed calls from the Coalition and Jewish groups for an end to the weekly demonstrations, at which Hezbollah and Hamas flags have been flown and anti-Semitic chants shouted, but urged organisers to “lower the temperature”.

“I’ve seen the comments from one of the (rally) organisers, who seems to be just a professional protester … What we need to do is to lower the temperature in the community,” Mr Albanese said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns on Friday, in front of NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb, pictured on his left. Picture: John Appleyard/NewsWire

In NSW, Premier Chris Minns is poised to introduce legislation protecting places of worship from protests – and strengthen hate-speech laws – upon parliament’s return next month and said although protest was a constitutional right police would not hesitate to arrest Jew haters or terrorist sympathisers.

“Protesting is lawful in Australia … But that doesn’t mean that NSW Police haven’t actively persecuted individuals who waved terrorist flags, for example,” he said. “It doesn’t mean that we’ve allowed hate speech in the community … Where we’ve seen a gap in the law we’ve been prepared to take action and change the law.

“All of those changes that we have pursued (surrounding terrorist symbols, protecting places of worship, hate speech) have been met with opposition, sometimes from within my own party, but we have been resolute about the need to protect the community.”

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said protests should be conducted safely and legally.

“We police the laws of the day, and certainly public assemblies and free speech are (a constitutional right) in Australia,” she said. “The important point is that they’re conducted within (legal) boundaries, and if they’re outside of the law we will take action.”

The Victorian government followed NSW’s lead in December, with Premier Jacinta Allan announcing she would strengthen hate-speech laws and introduce legislation protecting places of worship after the attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll pictured in Werribee in January. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascuia/NewsWire

Victoria’s Acting Premier, Ben Carroll, refrained from commenting directly on his government’s view on the weekly protests but said it would leave “no stone unturned” to eradicate anti-Semitism.

“We’re working to stop incidents of anti-Semitism and to ensure that those responsible are found and face the full force of the law because vilification and hate have no place,” he said.

But Victoria’s peak business lobby said weekly protests damaged the city and discouraged people from coming to the CBD.

“There is now a pathway to peace in the Middle East and yet another protest in Melbourne is unlikely to have an impact on accelerating that pathway,” Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Chanelle Pearson said.

“Protests discourage Victorians from coming into the city which hurts businesses, especially small businesses. Traders are enjoying the swell of tennis fans attending the Australian Open. We don’t want anything to damage our reputation with visitors.

“The protests continue to have a negative impact.”

Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou said he had not received any concerns or issues from the city’s industry figures or establishments about the protests on footfall, adding that it was more of an inconvenience to the public and police.