New South Wales Premier Chris Minns should withdraw his objection to a protest march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge by the Palestine Action Group planned for August 3, 2025, 47 organizations including Human Rights Watch said in a letter today to the premier. People have a right to peaceful protest under international law, the groups said. The following is their statement:
Dear Premier,
We write concerning your stated opposition to Palestine Action Group's planned protest 'March for Humanity' across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, calling for greater action by the Australian government in the face of Israel's blockade and starvation crisis in Gaza. We strongly urge you to reconsider opposing the march and instead work with assembly organisers to facilitate the exercise of the democratic right of protest under the protections in the Summary Offences Act and in line with the government's international human rights obligations.
Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Australia is a party, requires all state parties to guarantee and respect the right to peaceful assembly and to create an enabling environment within their jurisdictions for the exercise and enjoyment of that right. Governments and their agencies are required to protect all forms of peaceful protest regardless of where protest happens or what form it takes. These protections are owed to all people and must be provided to everyone free from discrimination of any kind. Australia has an obligation to comply with international human rights treaties to which it is party and to realise these principles in legislation.
Over 150 community organisations, including the Australian Council of Social Service, Community Legal Centres NSW, Australian Services Union NSW ACT and NSW Council for Civil Liberties, have called for Australian governments to respect these fundamental protest rights through the Declaration of our Right to Protest.
Per the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) in a general comment, restrictions on peaceful assembly must be 'necessary and proportionate in the context of a society based on democracy, the rule of law, political pluralism and human rights, as opposed to them being merely reasonable or expedient'. The government's opposition to the Palestine Action Group's proposed rally, with the Premier stating "the NSW government cannot support a protest of this scale and nature taking place on the Sydney Harbour Bridge," does not appear to be necessary and proportionate.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge has a rich history of democratic community action, including the 2000 Walk for Reconciliation and the 2023 World Pride march. Government agencies have previously facilitated the shutdown of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for other community and industry purposes, including a half-day closure for the filming of The Fall Guy in January 2023 and a seven-hour closure for the World Pride march. Both of these closures covered peak hour commuting times, requiring the diversion of significant traffic, while the proposed rally on Sunday takes place in the middle of the day during a significantly shorter time period. The organisers have also offered to hold the rally at a later date to allow for traffic planning.
Seeking to shut down this rally would be a serious departure from the NSW State and Police's responsibility to uphold the democratic right of protest. We urge your government to facilitate the exercise of democratic freedoms in collaboration with community groups and support the holding of this protest.
"The New South Wales authorities have an obligation to uphold the right to peaceful assembly," said Annabel Hennessy, Australia researcher at Human Rights Watch. "International law recognizes that protests by their nature may cause some disruption to ordinary life, but authorities need to accommodate them unless they impose a disproportionate burden."
