The New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns, is encountering significant backlash from his Labor caucus following his controversial stance on the recent pro-Palestine march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The protest, which took place on March 12, 2024, drew widespread participation after the NSW Supreme Court overturned a police decision to deny a permit for public safety reasons. Initial estimates from the police indicated a turnout of approximately 90,000, whereas organizers from the Palestine Action Group claimed the number was closer to 300,000.
Members of the caucus are set to convene on March 14, 2024, with plans to introduce a motion condemning conditions in Gaza and endorsing the right to protest. Prominent figures, including Penny Sharpe, the Energy Minister, and Jihad Dib, a frontbencher, participated in the march alongside several other state MPs. The former NSW Premier Bob Carr was also spotted at the forefront of the event.
Minns’ approach toward protests has sparked sharp criticism from various factions within his party. Members from both the right and left express growing frustration, suggesting that his alignment with media outlets, particularly News Corp, undermines the party’s core values. A member from the right faction stated, “There’s a sense that our policy positions are at the most conservative end of the spectrum. The audience of 2GB are never, ever going to vote for us.”
This internal dissent comes as MPs from the hard left faction, who initially supported Minns’ leadership, have remained largely silent regarding his crackdown on protests and law enforcement policies, including modifications to bail laws affecting children. As tensions rise, some members of the right faction lament the lack of progressive advocacy from the left, stating, “They’ve been completely missing in action.”
The Secretary of Unions NSW, Mark Morey, emphasized the importance of allowing public demonstrations, particularly during times of humanitarian crises. He remarked, “When there’s a strong public hunger to protest against violence and humanitarian crises, the government’s role should be to facilitate peaceful expression, not obstruct it.” Morey criticized Minns’ initial attempts to prevent the protest, calling it a concerning overreach that the courts rightfully rejected.
In response to the protests, Minns stated on March 13 that he does not regret opposing the march, asserting that his responsibility is to prioritize public safety. He acknowledged the significant public interest, saying, “It’s a difficult one for the government. We have to balance public safety and the public’s right to protest.”
Yet, this characterization did not sit well with NSW Labor MP Stephen Lawrence, who argued that the only way to ensure public safety was to facilitate the demonstration. He called the notion of suppressing a mass protest “risible,” noting that organizers had previously offered to postpone the event, which was declined by political leaders.
Looking ahead, Minns hinted at the possibility of appealing the court’s decision that allowed the protest and suggested legislation to impose restrictions on future demonstrations on the bridge. He cautioned that “no one should believe that it’s open season on the bridge,” despite acknowledging that the police had successfully facilitated numerous protests over the past two years.
Amid the internal turmoil, Sue Higginson, a member of the Greens, criticized Minns for failing to connect with his caucus and the public sentiment surrounding the protests. “Chris Minns is acting strangely and is not listening. He has lost authority over his own caucus and on matters too significant to ignore,” she stated.
As the political landscape continues to evolve, all eyes will be on how Minns navigates this internal conflict and addresses the growing calls for a more progressive stance within the Labor Party.
