Two major events are unfolding across Australia, testing emergency services and law enforcement. In Sydney, planned protests are set to challenge extended police restrictions, while in Victoria, a historic deluge has caused severe flash flooding along the iconic Great Ocean Road, leading to dramatic rescues.
Sydney Protests to Proceed Despite Police Warnings
NSW Police's extended powers to restrict protests will face a direct challenge on Friday with two demonstrations planned for Sydney's Town Hall. Organisers are rallying against both the anti-protest laws themselves and a scheduled visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Australia.
Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna has warned that participants could face charges if they block footpaths or display signs containing inflammatory hate speech. He confirmed a "high visibility" police presence would be deployed to manage the events.
"People can still have free speech. People can still gather in a park or somewhere that they’re not impeding people and have free speech as they’ve always been able to do," Commissioner McKenna stated on Thursday. He emphasised that hate speech or actions breaching legislation would not be tolerated, adding that the focus was on public safety and reducing community tension.
"Off the Charts" Rainfall Swamps Great Ocean Road
Meanwhile, in Victoria, a severe weather event of historic proportions has unfolded. More than 178 millimetres of rain fell in just six hours around the Wye River and Lorne areas on Thursday, shattering previous records.
State Emergency Service (SES) chief operations officer Alistair Drayton described the totals as "significantly off-the-charts," noting the previous highest daily rainfall for the region was 123mm. The intense downpour triggered flash flooding that swept vehicles away and stranded locals, including some in caravans.
"We’ve seen significant rainfall that’s created a deluge of water coming down those estuaries and we’ve seen some pretty extreme vision of vehicles that have been washed out," Drayton said. He warned that the environment remained incredibly dangerous due to fast-moving water and debris.
Ongoing Risks and Responses
While flood warnings for the affected area have been downgraded, authorities continue to warn residents and holidaymakers of potential landslips. The SES conducted multiple rescue operations in response to the crisis.
In Sydney, the situation remains tense as police prepare to enforce public order laws. The outcome of Friday's demonstrations will be a significant test of the recently extended police powers regarding public assemblies. Both events highlight the challenges faced by Australian authorities in managing public safety during periods of civil unrest and extreme natural disasters.
