An urgent NSW Supreme Court hearing will decide whether the Palestine Action Group’s plan to march can go ahead during the Herzog visit protest, part of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s Sydney trip. The organisers have slated a route from Sydney Town Hall to the NSW Parliament precinct for Monday night, while authorities emphasise crowd-management considerations and have urged protesters to use an alternate route.
In a hastily arranged court session, Justice Natalie Adams indicated the case would be heard ahead of the announced march. The government’s decision to invoke major event powers around the visit has become a focal point, with the challenge arguing the powers are not appropriately tailored for this particular gathering. Officials say the measures are intended to safeguard public safety during a high-profile international visit, especially as traffic and CBD security are affected.
The Palestine Action Group contends that peaceful demonstrators should retain their right to assemble, while the authorities emphasise the unusual security considerations tied to hosting a foreign head of state on Australian soil. Details about how the powers might apply to a specific march remain to be determined, and the court has signalled it will weigh whether conditions could be imposed without unduly restricting civil liberties. Herzog was expected to arrive over the weekend and is scheduled to depart in mid-February, adding urgency to the legal process as security plans are finalised.
As the legal process plays out, the clash between public assembly rights and public safety in the context of an international visit is drawing attention from observers interested in how similar scenarios are handled in major cities. Police have publicly urged participants to consider an alternate route to minimise disruption to CBD traffic and essential services while the court considers the matter.
What we know
- The NSW Supreme Court is hearing an urgent challenge to the use of major event powers tied to Herzog’s visit.
- The Palestine Action Group plans a march from Sydney Town Hall to the NSW Parliament precinct for Monday night.
- Authorities say major event powers were invoked to manage safety and traffic during the visit.
- Justice Natalie Adams is presiding over the case in the NSW Supreme Court.
- Herzog’s arrival was anticipated over the weekend with departure scheduled for mid-February, prompting security planning in Sydney.
- Police have urged protesters to take an alternative route to reduce CBD disruption.
Legal experts say the outcome could influence how similar protests are managed during visits by foreign leaders, potentially shaping court interpretations of when and how public-safety powers can be applied to planned demonstrations in the city’s core precincts.
What we don’t know
- Whether the march will be permitted under any conditions or restricted outright by the court’s decision.
- The exact restrictions, if any, that could accompany a permitted march (route, timing, or crowd limits).
- Whether there will be further legal challenges or appeals following the Monday hearing.
- Any additional protests planned around Herzog’s visit and how they might interact with security operations.
- How long the court-imposed or suggested conditions might stay in effect beyond the visit itself.
As the legal proceedings unfold, officials and protesters alike await a ruling that could set a precedent for balancing assembly rights with security imperatives during high-profile international visits in Sydney.
