US EditionMinns might have lost in court, but he knew failed protest laws were a winner
The court said the protest limits were too broad and burdened political communication, handing Premier Chris Minns a setback after the Bondi attack.
- On Thursday, the New South Wales Court of Appeal struck down controversial anti-protest laws, with Chief Justice Andrew Bell ruling they "impermissibly burdened" the implied right to freedom of political communication.
- Premier Chris Minns pushed the legislation through an emergency parliamentary sitting on Christmas Eve following the Bondi Beach terror attack to restrict public assemblies in Sydney.
- Activist groups including the Blak Caucus, Palestine Action Group, and Jews against the Occupation '48 challenged the laws, arguing provisions had a "chilling effect" on speech and "impermissibly burdened" freedom of political communication.
- Police used the powers to issue declarations lasting 14 days at a time, extended four times until February 17, while Premier Minns continued defending the legislation, stating "I don't regret moving that legislation at all."
- The state government had argued the laws served a "legitimate purpose" of protecting the community, citing an ASIO assessment that "heightened community tensions" over the Middle East conflict translated into "some incidents of violence connected to protest activity.
12 Articles
12 Articles
NSW Court Finds Post-Bondi Protest Ban Unlawful, Breached Implied Freedom
Laws banning protests in Sydney that were rushed through the state Parliament in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror mass killing have been struck down, with the state’s highest court ruling “they placed an unlawful burden on political expression.” In a decision handed down on April 16, the Court of Appeal sided with protest groups, finding the expanded police powers went too far in restricting the right to assemble. Chief Justice Andrew Bell sai…
‘Unconstitutional’ – NSW court strikes down Minns’ draconian anti-protest laws
By Stephanie Tran of Michael West Media The Supreme Court of New South Wales has struck down the state’s draconian anti-protest laws, ruling they impose an “impermissible burden” on political communication and are invalid. In a landmark decision yesterday, the court declared key provisions of the anti-protest laws introduced after the Bondi terrorist attack unconstitutional, finding they gave police sweeping powers to shut down protests across l…
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