A plan to shut down the Sydney Harbour Bridge for a weekend protest has been halted.
Premier Chris Minns has told pro-Palestinian protesters that they had not given enough notice, but they say they are happy to wait.
Demonstrators take to the streets of Sydney every Sunday.
Minns was quick to shut down the idea on the advice of police.
“We cannot support a protest of this scale, especially with one week’s notice,” he said.
“We cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos.”
The opposition sided with the premier, with leader Mark Speakman saying “they should not be taking over the Harbour Bridge”.
In 2000, 250,000 people marched across the bridge in support of reconciliation.
The main argument against the rally is that there’s not enough time to safely organise it for the bridge.
The premier and police said they would support it at another location or time, with organisers offering a plan to push it back another week.
If the protesters get their wish, there’s no doubt the demonstration on the famous coat hanger will attract global headlines.
A spokesperson for Palestine Action Group confirmed it has filed a Form 1 notifying NSW Police of the planned “March for Humanity”.
“We urge every person and organization who cannot stand idle in the face of this atrocity to join us,” stated the Palestine Action Group.
“By marching en masse across the Harbour Bridge, Australia’s most iconic symbol, we aim to convey a potent message to the world, Gaza, and Israel that we are resolute in our commitment to humanity.”
This will be the first time pro-Palestine demonstrators have brought their weekly march to the bridge in almost two years, since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict with the attacks on October 7, 2023.
Police later decided to withdraw their application to stop the protest.
“Officers from Sydney City Police Area Command have received a Form 1 from organisers and are consulting relevant stakeholders,” the spokesperson said.
