New South Wales Premier Chris Minns is facing intense criticism from state politicians following allegations of police brutality during a large-scale protest in Sydney's central business district. The controversy centres on a rally held outside Sydney Town Hall on Tuesday night, where approximately 30,000 people gathered to voice opposition to Israeli Prime Minister Isaac Herzog's Australian tour.
Legal Gathering Turns Confrontational
While the Supreme Court had earlier declared a planned march through the city to NSW Parliament as unlawful, authorities permitted a stationary protest that didn't disrupt traffic to proceed as a legal assembly. However, tensions escalated when police officers began converging on the crowd before any movement had commenced, despite agreements between police and state MPs that speakers intended to lead a march.
Graphic Footage Emerges of Police Actions
Disturbing video evidence has surfaced showing multiple arrests that Greens NSW MPs, rally organiser Joshua Lees, and NSW Council of Civil Liberties President Timothy Roberts have characterised as excessive force. One particularly concerning clip depicts a young man being restrained on the ground by two officers, with one striking him twice in the face before the other followed with additional blows to his face and back.
The individual was later seen being carried away by officers with what appeared to be capsicum spray residue on his chest. Greens MP Sue Higginson described witnessing the police response as something she "never, ever thought I would see with my own eyes", labelling it a "monumental failure" of policing.
Politicians Detail Their Experiences
Higginson explained that police created what she called a "pressure cooker" situation by compressing the crowd without clear direction, resulting in both her and fellow MP Jenny Leong being capsicum sprayed. Greens MP Abigail Boyd alleges she was physically assaulted by an officer while complying with instructions to leave the area.
"I was punched in the head and arm by an officer while following orders to leave the scene," Boyd stated. "I don't understand how that is a proportionate response. I've never seen anything like it. I don't trust the police to look after anybody."
Premier's Defence Meets Strong Opposition
Earlier on Tuesday, Premier Minns had defended police actions, describing the operation as successful because it prevented protesters from approaching approximately 7,000 Jewish mourners gathered at the TikTok Entertainment Centre to hear Herzog speak - an event Minns attended with his wife Anna.
Higginson responded forcefully to this assessment: "If that is the measure of success, friends, we are in trouble. We are in a difficult period and we need to navigate our way through this. The right of people to protest should never face this level of police violence."
Calls for Independent Investigation
All three Greens NSW parliamentarians have demanded an independent review into the level of force and tactical approaches employed by police during the event. Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees reported witnessing a young woman being "grabbed by the hair" and thrown to the ground before arrest.
Lees drew stark comparisons between the police response and American law enforcement practices: "Chris Minns is trying to bring a little bit of Donald Trump's America to Sydney," he asserted, specifically referencing US Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics.
Police Defend Their Actions
NSW Police confirmed the rally resulted in 27 arrests, with 10 individuals charged with assaulting police officers. Police Association of NSW President Kevin Morton expressed unwavering support for the officers involved, stating the union "supports the actions of our members 100 per cent."
"Their actions were proportionate to what was occurring in front of them and necessitated by the violent actions of large groups of people in the crowd," Morton explained. "NSW police officers do their job at protests and public assemblies to keep people safe and enforce the law set by the democratically elected Parliament."
Morton added that the outcome was one "police did not want and did what they could to avoid," but that "some sections of this protest left our members with no choice ... They were people just hellbent on causing a reaction and creating chaos."
The incident has sparked significant debate about protest rights, police powers, and appropriate use of force during public demonstrations in New South Wales, with political leaders and community advocates calling for greater accountability and transparency in policing operations.
