Court Bans Pro-Palestinian March to Sydney Opera House

On October 9, 2025, a court in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, formally prohibited a planned pro-Palestinian march from Hyde Park to the Sydney Opera House this weekend. The court cited convincing safety risk reports submitted by police, including potential crowd congestion, insufficient escape routes, security delays, and subsequent disorder. Violators of the ban could face contempt of court charges.

The organizers, Palestine Action Group and Jews Against Occupation, argued in court that the ban infringed on peaceful protest rights. However, the court ruled that protest freedom must be balanced against public safety concerns.

Police warned that marching to the Opera House forecourt could create crowd crush risks due to limited space. Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna stated that entrances and exits, combined with security screening procedures, could result in significant delays and heightened safety risks.

The court also allowed Jewish community representatives to submit opinions, noting that holding the march on the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack at such a symbolic location could incite anti-Semitic sentiment and social tension. The court unanimously determined the risks were too high to grant an exception.

The organizers announced a revised route from Hyde Park along George Street to Belmore Park. They still called for the Sydney Opera House to be lit in Palestinian flag colors, which was explicitly rejected by NSW Premier Chris Minns.