Sydney Opera House ‘screw up’ lambasted by political, religious leaders amid operational autopsy
NSW’s defiant Police Minister declared officers ‘successfully’ managed a widely condemned pro-Hamas march, despite the only arrest being an innocent man carrying an Israeli flag.
NSW’s defiant Police Minister has declared officers “successfully” managed a widely condemned pro-Hamas march, despite authorities’ only arrest being an innocent man carrying an Israeli flag .
Yasmin Catley was fighting off calls to resign on Tuesday after pictures of police lining the Opera House’s steps amid anti-Semitic chants and burnings of the Israeli flag were broadcast around the globe.
NSW Premier Chris Minns called the protest “abhorrent”.
“At the end of the day, this is the opposite of the dynamic, multicultural community that we want in NSW,” Mr Minns said.
“It was a situation where racial epithets were thrown at the Jewish community by the mere fact that they were members of the Jewish community.”
Both the Premier and Ms Catley came under fire for the government’s handling of the rally, which was allowed to march to the Opera House when it was to be lit up in the colours of the Israeli flag. Sydney’s Jewish community was warned by police about attending the CBD given “safety concerns”.
Crowds at the Opera House chanted “f..k the Jews” and “Zionist pigs” as they lit flares at the steps of the iconic Sydney building.
On Tuesday, Attorney-General Michael Daley admitted he wasn’t across Monday night’s events. He said police and operation decisions do not involve the Attorney-General, and called the protest “shocking and appalling”.
“I was not briefed on last night’s operations in relation to the Opera House protests, nor any discussions the police may have had, nor any advice they may have given,” Mr Daley said.
Mr Minns said police made an “operational decision” in a “short space of time”, and assistant police commissioner Tony Cooke said “risks were avoided”.
“The best option was to control and manage the situation,” Mr Cooke said. “This is not about us condoning, supporting (or) facilitating any protest … this is about us providing for the public safety.”
He confirmed he advised the Jewish community of the “significant risk” of attending.
The protest was also unauthorised, without the requisite paperwork.
“Police did not approve the march … there was no authorisation,” Ms Catley confirmed on Tuesday, saying inquiries would be held into its handling.
““They needed to manage a highly volatile crowd… and determined the best option was to control and manage crowd movements. They did that successfully.”
Former Australian ambassador to Israel and federal MP Dave Sharma said: “This has been a complete screw up by the NSW government – how on earth did they allow this to happen?”
“From the Brandenburg Gate to the Eiffel Tower, thousands gathered peacefully at iconic sights lit in Israeli colours in a show of solidarity,” he said. “In Sydney, we showcased a wild mob, cheering on the most barbaric acts, chanting the most vile slogans.”
Wentworth MP Allegra Spender – whose electorate has a large Jewish community – described the protest as a “national disgrace”.
“Australians enjoy the right to protest, but not the right to spread hate speech and anti-Semitism,” Ms Spender said.
Ms Spender said she had written to the government asking for an explanation and that Jewish community members in her electorate were “anxious”.
“I can’t understand why police would authorise a march if they believe it would be a threat to the safety of other community members,” Ms Spender said.
“I think it was a colossal error of judgment from the minister and I believe she should resign.”
Former prime minister Tony Abbott said he was appalled at the celebration of “gruesome atrocities”. “Australia should be united in condemnation and in solidarity with Israel,” he said.
Mr Abbott said he hoped Mr Minns would have “stern words” with Ms Catley and reprimand NSW Police after the debacle.
“It was a serious error of judgment by the police to allow that march to go anywhere near the Opera House, where there was always going to be trouble,” he said.
The NSW Opposition was unequivocal in its condemnation of both the rally and the state government’s handling of it, with Liberal leader Mark Speakman saying Labor was “missing in action”.
“They have failed in their duty to ensure the protection of Sydney’s Jewish community – instead telling them ‘to stay home’,” Mr Speakman said.
He called on Ms Catley to apologise to Sydney’s Jewish community and said he feared they were “feeling unsafe” in their own city.
A spokeswoman for Ms Catley said the minister had been in contact with police and the Jewish community on Monday, but it is understood she had not reached out on Tuesday to the community to offer an apology or to discuss safety issues.
Former police minister Paul Toole said Monday was a communication breakdown. “What we’re seeing is no communication or lack of action (from the Police Minister) who is not across the detail and doesn’t have the right working relationship with the police required,” he said.
Ms Catley’s spokeswoman said that she had “zero role in operational decision making”.
“It would be grossly inappropriate if she did – those decisions are for NSW Police operational commanders,” she said.
Ms Catley said public safety was a priority: “The police’s priority was to control and manage a large and volatile crowd and prevent conflict, violence and ensure public safety.”
Jewish community leaders have slammed Monday’s events and the NSW government’s handling of them .
“To see preachers inciting hatred, glorifying the most despicable violence and atrocities on our streets should never have occurred,” Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said.
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