Pro-Palestine protest outside Sydney Town Hall. Monday 22nd December 2025
UPDATE: Pro-Palestine protests broke out in both Sydney and Melbourne on October 30, 2023, as over 250 protesters rallied against proposed changes to hate speech laws pushed by NSW Premier Chris Minns. The demonstrations come in the wake of a recent terrorist attack in Bondi, prompting Minns to target the chant “globalise the intifada,” labeling it as hate speech that incites violence.
The Sydney protest, which took place outside Town Hall, was marked by passionate speeches against the government’s legislative changes that could classify the chant as hate speech. Protesters argue that the call for “globalise the intifada” reflects a demand for justice regarding Israel’s actions in Palestine, not violence.
Premier Minns announced the proposed changes on Saturday, stating that the recent attack highlighted the need for stricter regulations. He stated, “This phrase is hate speech and it encourages violence in our community.” The government’s proposal also includes limiting public assemblies after a terrorist incident is declared, raising significant concerns about freedom of expression.
Protesters, including human rights lawyer Sara M. Saleh, vehemently opposed these measures. Saleh emphasized the importance of protecting dissenting voices, stating, “Freedom of expression and freedom of assembly exist precisely to protect what are seemingly disruptive and dissenting voices.”
The rally saw speeches from various activists, including Michelle Berkon, who was previously removed by police from a memorial site at Bondi. She criticized the politicization of the tragedy, saying, “Let’s also mourn the manipulation and exploitation of this Australian tragedy by those who want to suppress the voices calling for justice and destroy our democratic freedoms.”
Simultaneously, a smaller protest of about 100 people took place in Melbourne, defying calls from Premier Jacinta Allen and Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush to cancel the event. The Melbourne protesters joined their Sydney counterparts in voicing opposition to the proposed laws, which could impose penalties of up to $22,000 or two years in jail for public displays of terrorist symbols.
These legislative changes are currently before the NSW Parliament and have been met with fierce resistance from civil rights advocates. The protests underscore a growing tension in Australia over freedom of speech and the right to assemble amid rising concerns over national security.
As these developments unfold, all eyes remain on the NSW Parliament and the government’s response to the growing dissent. What happens next could shape the future of protest rights and public discourse in Australia.
