Today the NSW Police Commissioner has decided 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 believes this is a disgraceful misuse of power.

Comments attributable to Timothy Roberts, President NSWCCL 

“The Police Commissioner should never have been given these powers and has demonstrated he does not have the restraint to keep them.  Not only has he prohibited the authorisation of protests across vast areas of Greater Sydney, including the South West Metropolitan, North West Metropolitan and Central Metropolitan areas, he has extended this prohibition while significant portions of the community have demonstrated a desire to assemble in the wake of the USA attack on Venezuela and in the lead up to Invasion Day.

“The prohibition declaration has a chilling effect on the community, who should not have to fear police intervention when they wish to assemble. 

“The Minns Government undermines the Police Commissioner's operational role by having him make political decisions about what protests can and cannot proceed without police intervention. 

“It is not the place of the unelected NSW Police Commissioner to make this call, it is a matter for the community to decide. In using and extending the power, the NSW Police Commissioner suppresses the community's freedom to assemble and politically communicate. This is an infringement on the people of NSW’s ability to engage in democracy and has implications at both a federal and state level. 

“The people of NSW deserve a government that is genuinely interested in combating racism, not merely repressing the expression of opinions they do not agree with.  

“In using the rhetoric where he expresses a desire for ‘calm’ and ‘peace’ the commissioner unfairly implies the protests we have seen over the last few years have been anything but peaceful. This is particularly galling given the serious assault and injury Hannah Thomas suffered at the hands of one of his officers at just such a protest.”