Tomorrow the NSW Police Commissioner will have to decide whether to renew the Public Assembly Restriction Declaration (PARD) power for a further 14 days. This power was established in the latest tranche of anti-democratic laws passed by the Minns Labor Government. While a PARD is in effect, Form 1 applications to hold an authorised assembly will not be accepted for the specified policing zones of the declaration.
The NSW Council for Civil Liberties is calling on the NSW Police Commissioner not to renew the PARD which is currently in effect in South West Metropolitan, North West Metropolitan and Central Metropolitan policing areas for a further 14 days.
Comments attributable to Timothy Roberts, President NSWCCL
“This extremely anti-democratic police power has been in effect over the past 14 days and should not be renewed.
“The Police Commissioner has not shown restraint in prohibiting the authorisation of protests across vast areas of Greater Sydney, including the South West Metropolitan, North West Metropolitan and Central Metropolitan areas, but he should show restraint now and not extend the declaration.
“In less than two weeks we have already seen examples of how this power is impacting and can impact our community. The declaration has prevented the people of NSW from seeking authorisation for protests responding to the United States’ attack on Venezuela.
“Police powers that were enacted and used to protect one part of our community have suppressed the democratic rights of others. It is a bad law that has created and grown division.
“The NSW community, in this case those specifically concerned about what has happened in Venezuela or the preservation of international law, have the right to assemble and communicate with each other without fear of an oppressive police response. The NSW Government’s appalling rhetoric and passing of these laws undermines these freedoms.
“The Minns Government is preventing the people of NSW from drawing the Australian Government’s attention to this international matter and their view of the appropriate response”.
