Protest route against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s Australian visit ‘unauthorised’ as controversial NSW ban extended

A protest route planned for Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia is “unauthorised” after the extension of controversial NSW laws restricting protests. The laws, implemented in the wake of the alleged terror attack at Bondi Beach, do not strictly prohibit a protest but strip attendees of protections from criminal offences such as obstructing traffic. These criminal offences would typically be protected under a Form 1 application, which protest organisers can apply for; however, no Form 1s are accepted under the protest ban. The ban was extended for a third time by NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon on Tuesday, just a week out from a mass protest building against Mr Herzog’s Australian visit. Protests will be banned in the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command and in parts of the city; however, Hyde Park has been excluded. The protest against Mr Herzog, led by the Palestine Action Group (PAG), is slated to begin at Town Hall before the group marches to state parliament. Mr Lanyon said that route was “unauthorised” as per the restrictions, but police would be happy to facilitate a protest in Hyde Park. “It is important that I keep the entire community safe … We want to ensure that free speech is enshrined, but we need to make sure that that is balanced by community safety,” Mr Lanyon said. “Obviously, what I fear is a large-scale public assembly with so much animosity could present a risk to community safety.” PAG organiser Joshua Lees said the protest extension was “trying to silence” activists’ opposition to Mr Herzog’s visit, claiming the Israeli President is a “war criminal”. “If Chris Minns’ unconstitutional anti-protest regime is extended, it will reveal that this is purely about trying to silence opposition to the visit of war criminal Israeli President Isaac Herzog,” Mr Lees said in a statement on Tuesday, issued before the protest ban was extended. He encouraged people to turn up to the protest and urged police to facilitate it. Mr Lanyon said officers would work to ensure Mr Herzog’s safety, adding there is room to balance free speech with community safety. “The President is here as an invitee of the Commonwealth government. He is here to mourn and provide support to the Jewish Australian community,” he said. “I’d say the ability certainly sits there to balance free speech and for people to exercise free speech, but free speech comes with responsibility. “This is a time for calm … I understand there is animosity in some sections of the community towards President Herzog. It’s inappropriate that that puts community safety at risk.” A coalition of activists is fighting the protest laws in court, with a constitutional challenge filed by Elizabeth Jarrett of Blak Caucus, Michelle Berkon of Jews Against the Occupation ’48 and Mr Lees in the NSW Supreme Court. Mr Lees earlier indicated that activists would “defy” the laws if needed.