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A state police watchdog will oversee a probe into a violent arrest at a pro-Palestine rally that seriously injured a one-time federal Greens candidate.
The decision on Monday ends days of NSW Police refusals to declare the wounding of Hannah Thomas a critical incident, requiring a full investigation with independent oversight.
The 35-year-old was among five people arrested in Sydney on Friday outside an Australian firm reportedly linked to the manufacture of components for Israeli Defence Force fighter jets.
Police have faced scrutiny over the arrest after Thomas said the action could result in permanent vision loss in her right eye.
On Monday afternoon, NSW Police said a critical incident investigation had been declared after a review of her medical records, which showed her injury was serious enough to warrant the decision.
The NSW Police had repeatedly requested medical information from the 35-year-old woman following the incident. They aimed to assess whether her injuries were severe enough to reach the critical incident status, according to a statement.
A team of officers from another command would investigate the incident, with internal review by professional standards and external oversight from police watchdog the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
Earlier, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said he had not seen any misconduct on body-worn camera footage of the incident and all officers involved remained on duty.
But lawyer Peter O’Brien, representing Thomas, said he had grave concerns over the force’s actions and suggested police felt emboldened to shut down protests after a recent crackdown.
Posting on social media from her hospital bed, Thomas said “draconian” anti-protest laws had given police a licence “to crack down on peaceful protest in extremely violent, brutal ways”.
“I’m five-foot-one, I weigh about 45kg, I was engaged in peaceful protest,” she said.
Premier Chris Minns said he would not comment on police conduct until further information came to light.
The protesters accused SEC Plating, in southwest Sydney, of making parts for F-35 jets used by Israel, a claim the firm denies.
Minns denied controversial protest laws passed in February were used by police to move on the demonstrators on Friday morning, as claimed by Greens MPs, or that the laws had emboldened police to act more forcefully.
Police said the protest at SEC Plating was unauthorised and blocked access to the Belmore business.
“A scuffle ensued between police and protesters” during attempts to arrest the protesters for not complying with move-on directions, they said.
A video of the incident showed police dragging one of the protesters as onlookers repeatedly shouted “get off her” and “let go of her”.
Thomas, who ran second to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the inner-west Sydney seat of Grayndler in the federal election in May, was charged on Sunday with hindering or resisting police and not following a move-on direction.
She is set to appear at Bankstown Local Court in August.
Footage of Thomas circulating online showed her eye swollen shut and with blood on her face before she was taken to hospital.
All five protesters arrested during the scuffle were granted bail and four will appear in Bankstown Local Court on July 15.
