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ShareLatest Posts10.43amUrgent court challenge kicks offBy Michaela WhitbournAn urgent legal challenge to sweeping powers given to NSW Police by the state government for Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia is under way in the Supreme Court.

The NSW government quietly declared Herzog’s visit a major event on Friday under legislation typically used to manage crowds at sporting events. The declaration was announced on Saturday.

Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees arrives at the Supreme Court ahead of an eleventh hour legal challenge against protest restrictions.Peter RaeIt triggered wide-ranging powers for NSW Police, including to shut down parts of the “major events area” in the Sydney CBD and eastern suburbs, to limit the number of people who can remain in the area, and to conduct searches.

The Palestine Action Group (PAG) has planned a demonstration at Sydney Town Hall from 5.30pm on Monday. It has estimated about 5000 people will attend.

That location is within the “major events area” declared by the state government, giving police broad powers to stop the protest. PAG is challenging the declaration in court.

The group’s barrister, Peter Lange, SC, told the Supreme Court this morning that the “declared major event … is said to be the [presidential] visit”.

Pro-Palestine protesters outside the Supreme Court earlier. Peter RaeHe said this was “not sufficient to amount to an event” for the purposes of the laws.

“An event is something which is limited geographically, temporally, and with regard to a group of participants,” Lange said.

The group is arguing the government acted outside its legal powers in making the major event declaration, as well as that the declaration was made for the “improper purpose” of “shutting down a protest”.

The major event legislation explicitly states the government “may not declare an industrial or political demonstration or protest to be a major event”.

The declaration made by the government describes the event as the presidential visit. The court will need to consider if this kind of event is covered by the laws.

Share10.21amProtesters seek to have sweeping police powers struck downBy Max MaddisonPalestine Action Group spokesperson Josh Lees says protesters rallying against the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog are “not looking for conflict with police”.

Ahead of a pivotal eleventh hour case in the Supreme Court this morning, Lees decried the “PR tour of the Israeli head of state”. He anticipated “huge numbers” of protesters on Monday evening regardless of the outcome of the hearing.

Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees arrives at the Supreme Court ahead of an eleventh hour legal challenge against protest restrictions.Wolter Peeters“We’re not seeking any confrontation or conflict with police,” Lees said in a brief press conference.

Lees indicated protesters would abide by the ruling of Justice Robertson Wright if it did not fall their way.

The group’s application for a march has been blocked by police, requiring them to hold a static protest instead. They are separately requesting NSW Police facilitate a march from Town Hall to NSW parliament.

“We haven’t convinced them of that yet,” Lees said.

Lees addresses the media alongside Palestine Action Group supporters.Wolter PeetersThe group will challenge the state government’s designation of Herzog’s four-day visit as a “major event” in the Supreme Court. The laws were not intended for political events as a means of shutting down protest, Lees said.

“That’s one of the clear bases we’ll be opposing the laws today, as well as they’re just wildly disproportionate by nature, given the obscene kind of powers that they give to police,” he said.

Lees said the visit of Herzog was an “insult to the memory of Bondi”, saying the politician’s visit did “nothing to help any process of healing”.

Lees speaks to the media outside the Supreme Court. Peter RaeShare10.14amPolice focused on keeping president and the public safe: NSW premierBy Matt O'SullivanMinns said he would “not front run” the outcome of legal action in the Supreme Court later today.

“They’ve got to make a decision in the next few hours,” he said.

Snipers on rooftops in Sydney for Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s official state visit. Peter RaeAsked whether the public could expect to see police carrying long-arm rifles in city streets, Minns said they could in particular locations, before adding that it was a tactical and operational decision made by NSW Police.

“I think reasonable people expect us to keep him safe and to keep the community safe during this visit,” Minns said.

ShareAdvertisement10.05amWatch: Premier addresses protests during Herzog visitBy Matt O'SullivanPremier Chris Minns has urged protesters to show respect and reminded the broader public that Sydney was on the “international stage” during the visit by the Israeli president.

“We want this 48-hour period to go off without incident,” Minns told reporters this morning.

“That’s hugely important for our reputation, but also in terms of unity and civility in the weeks and months and years ahead, long after the president has left our shores.”

Minns rejected the argument from protest groups that his government had outlawed all protest: “That’s not the case. There’s been protests in various parts of Sydney since the 14th of December (the date of the Bondi terror attack).”

Minns said it was important the government manage public order and community harmony “in a respectful way”, noting that there would be a massive police operation in Sydney over the next 48 hours.

“I know there’s disagreement about this visit,” he said. “But I think it’s hugely important for the long-term unity of the city and the country if there is disagreement, it’s done in a calm and respectful way. It doesn’t spill into conflict.

“I think that would be very hard for our city to recover from.”

Share9.45amIn pictures: Snipers, police surround Israeli presidentBy Photographer Peter Rae is covering Herzog’s visit. He filed these pictures of the heavy security presence surrounding the Israeli president and first lady this morning.

Outgoing Israeli ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon (centre), arriving at Sydney International Airport earlier this morning. Peter RaeMaimon oversaw an acrimonious posting as ambassador. During his tenure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally attacked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on social media and Australia took the historic decision to recognise Palestinian statehood.

The soon-to-be retired diplomat returned immediately from Israel to Sydney following the Bondi shooting.

ShareAdvertisementPinned post from 8.51amWhat you need to know this morningBy Angus Thomson and Amber SchultzWe are following Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s official state visit to Australia. If you’re just joining us, here’s what you need to know today:

Share8.35amPolice still hope protesters will relocate to Hyde Park By Angus ThomsonPolice have not given up on their push to relocate a planned pro-Palestine protest from Sydney’s Town Hall to Hyde Park, but say they are prepared for all possibilities.

The Palestine Action Group plans to hold what it described as a “stationary” demonstration, starting at Town Hall from 5.30pm on Monday. It has estimated about 5000 people will attend.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna in October. Sitthixay DitthavongNSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said Hyde Park was a safer location for the mass gathering.

“We’ll continue to talk to them up to the eleventh hour because we just think it is easier for public safety to fix larger numbers in that area,” McKenna said. “But we’re prepared for them being at Town Hall, and there’ll be significant police presence throughout the CBD.”

The area declared to be a major event area under the Minns government’s declaration.NSW Government GazetteThe government has declared Herzog’s visit a major event, giving police additional powers to “close off” designated areas and order people to leave. The public assembly restriction put in place following the Bondi terror attack also makes it an offence for protests to block traffic or pedestrians.

“If we have to move people on, dispersed crowds or make arrests, then that’s what we will do,” McKenna said. “We’re hoping we don’t have to do any of that.”

Protesters will dispute the special event restrictions in court this morning, arguing that the government had acted outside its legal powers.

Share8.11amHeavy security presence surrounds president and first ladyBy Herzog has been spotted in Sydney after touching down in Australia earlier this morning.

Vision captured by Nine cameras show the Israeli president and first lady, Michal, enjoying the view from a balcony at an undisclosed location.

Isaac and Michal Herzog on a Sydney balcony. Nine NewsThere is a heavy security presence surrounding Herzog and his entourage. Snipers could be seen on rooftops nearby.

ShareAdvertisement7.28am‘Not welcome here’: Jewish group publishes letter condemning visitBy Angus ThomsonA group of Australian Jews have published a letter condemning the Israeli president’s visit to Australia.

“Welcoming an alleged war criminal in the aftermath of the Bondi massacre betrays Jewish communities, multicultural Australia and everyone who stands for Palestinian human rights and international law,” the letter, published in Monday’s editions of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, said.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog addresses media in Beersheba, Israel, in June.Kate Geraghty“We, the undersigned Australian Jews, say Israeli President Herzog does not speak for us and is NOT WELCOME HERE.”

A United Nations commission of inquiry found Herzog and other Israeli officials were “liable to prosecution for incitement to genocide” for comments made after the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas. Herzog has since clarified his remarks.

More than 600 people’s names appeared on the letter arranged by the left-leaning Jewish Council of Australia.

Other Jewish peak bodies have welcomed Herzog’s visit. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said it would lift the spirits of a pained community.

“We hope it will lead to a much-needed recalibration of bilateral relations between two historic allies,” he said. “For the victim families and for the survivors, it means a great deal.”