NSW Premier Chris Minns pushes back at Labor critics over Harbour Bridge march stance

Premier Chris Minns has slammed a pro-Palestine march across Sydney Harbour Bridge as a logistics “Everest”, as organisers prepare to challenge police in court.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has defended his opposition to a pro-Palestine march across Sydney Harbour Bridge, despite pushback from within the state’s Labor Party.

Police confirmed on Tuesday they were prepared to go to the Supreme Court to stop Sunday’s march, which is being organised by the Palestine Action Group.

Mr Minns claimed Sydney would “descend into chaos” if the march was allowed to go ahead and that he would not allow it under any circumstances.

Those comments prompted pushback from within the Labor ranks, with MLC Stephen Lawrence stating the Premier had “in effect made a purported decision himself to try and prevent this protest”.

“That this will taint proper consideration of the matter by police and that violence may ensue as a consequence,” he said in a statement.

“The management of this planned protest should be left entirely to NSW Police, who should be allowed to make an independent and principled decision according to law.”

Premier Chris Minns has slammed a pro-Palestine march across Sydney Harbour Bridge as a logistics ‘Everest’. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Mr Lawrence urged police to consider a “range of factors”, including: “When, rather than if, the bridge can be safely used for the purpose of a protest in relation to events in Palestine that are causing much legitimate consternation in the community.”

Asked if he stood by his remarks following internal opposition, Mr Minns said the march was a “logistic and communications Everest” and that police were talking to organisers about an alternate route.

“I completely recognise that many Australians are very concerned, very concerned about the humanitarian aid crisis in Gaza as well as human rights for Palestinians,” he said.

“I’m not suggesting that the motives of the protesters are wrong or misplaced.

“My point, and it’s an important one, is that to close down the Harbour Bridge, which has happened maybe two or three times in a decade, is a logistic and communications Everest.
“When it happens for a marathon … It’s nine to twelve months in the planning, it doesn’t happen overnight, it doesn’t even happen in a week.”

Organisers are protesting mass starvation in Gaza. Picture: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Mr Minns assured organisers the alternate route was not “in Blacktown or Penrith or Emu Plains, but in the middle of Sydney”.

Asked about Mr Lawrence, the Premier described the Labor MLC as a “persistent critic of the government on this and many other issues”.

“I’m not surprised by his internations,” he said.
The Palestine Action Group remained defiant on Wednesday, repeating calls for the march to go-ahead amid mass starvation in Gaza.

In an Instagram post shortly after midday, the group said “We are still marching on Sunday.

“In order to stop us, the NSW Police will have to win a Supreme Court case against us,” they said.

“We expect we will be in court to fight this tomorrow.”

More than 150 community and union groups have backed the march, including the NSW Greens and the NSW Council of Civil Liberties.

President Timothy Roberts urged the Premier to “stay out of matters of operational policing”.

“Stop this pattern of making quick comments before the Police even have a chance to speak to protest organisers,” he said.

Labor MLC Stephen Lawrence said the Premier had ‘in effect made a purported decision himself to try and prevent this protest’. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

“We should be suspicious of any steps taken to curtail the right to protest on the basis that it is occurring in or around landmarks as opposed to backstreets where the intended message would be out of sight and out of mind.

“It is not dangerous to close the Harbour Bridge for a protest, just as it is not dangerous to close it off for the Sydney Marathon. What is dangerous is a NSW Government hell bent on repressing our democratic rights.”

The Harbour Bridge has been temporarily closed on a number of occasions in recent years, including the filming of the Ryan Gosling movie The Fall Guy and for the 2023 World Pride march, attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

It will also be closed next month for the Sydney Marathon.

Originally published as NSW Premier Chris Minns pushes back at Labor critics over Harbour Bridge march stance