Sydney Protest Ban Lifted for Big January 26 Marches
Synopsis
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon reveals a partial relaxation in the city’s hard-line protest bans which have restricted Sydney streets for a month. The ruling paves the way for large marches to be held in Sydney’s city centre on Jan. 26, though some restrictions will still apply elsewhere across the city. The move is part of an attempt to strike a balance between free speech and public safety after recent tragedies, but some campaigners say they will continue legal challenges against the government’s strict new protest powers.
People will now be able to hold rallies on Sydney’s streets again, after the strict rules that stopped many have been relaxed just in time. The protest ban in Sydney will be partially lifted, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon announced on Tuesday. The move comes after a month in which nearly all street marches were banned following the Bondi tragedy. By altering these rules, the police have cleared the way for major marches scheduled for January 26 to move through the centre of town.
“The idea here is for this to be some kind of fair balance,” the Commissioner said. The police are eager to allow people to express themselves and gather in public but must also ensure everyone feels secure, he added. The city centre is open now, but many other streets in Sydney will still have the ban for at least two more seven-day-long periods of continuous enforcement.
January 26 Marches Announced
With the Sydney protest ban eased in some areas, the annual Invasion Day march will now be able to make its way through the city. Under the new rules, protests will be allowed in parts of the CBD and north of Oxford Street. However, the ban remains in place on the northern streets near Circular Quay to accommodate the thousands expected at the official Australia Day celebrations by the water.
Another group, March for Australia, is planning a rally near Central Station on the same day. With both groups marching in proximity, police say they will be monitoring the area closely to ensure both sides can express themselves peacefully and without causing disruptions or safety concerns.
Legal Challenges and Future Protests
Although the Sydney protest ban has been eased, the laws used to impose it are still being challenged in court. A coalition of activists and residents has sued the NSW government, arguing that the laws go too far and suppress peaceful protest rights. Legal experts note that the legislation is highly complex, and it remains uncertain how it will be applied in the long run.
Groups wishing to hold a march in the city centre over the next two weeks must apply to the police, who will assess each request individually for safety. Acting Police Minister Paul Scully said the government fully supports police in this work. He urged Sydney residents to respect these new rules, follow the law, and look out for one another during the busy week ahead.
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