NSW Court Strikes Down Protest Ban Laws

0:00It's April 16th. Welcome to Sydney News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. New South Wales top court just shut down emergency laws from the men's government aimed at curbing protests in Sydney after that brutal bond die. Terrorist attack on December 24th. The Court of Appeal ruled these measures invalid for messing too much with the implied freedom of political communication baked into the federal constitution. Basically, they gave the police commissioner power to blanket ban protests in whole zones for up to 14 days after a terror incident. Extendable. To 90. These laws got rushed through parliament 10 days post the tech, needing the police ministers okay, ensured it only by terrorism fears, like risks of violence or intimidation. Activist groups, including the Palestine action group, challenged them before a big protest during Israeli president Isaac Herzog's visit, arguing. They were way too broad,

1:00like swinging a sledgehammer at a walnut. Thousands clashed with cops in Sydney on February 6, leading to dozens of charges, and more arrests hit on February 9th at the town hall demo. Under those restrictions, premier Chris Min stands by the laws, calling them key for handling a tough summer. But protesters and lawyers are pushing now for drop charges. Though the ruling doesn't wipe them out automatically, the court, led by Chief Justice Andrew Bell and others, said the laws unfairly blocked normal protest approvals, where organizers just give seven days. Notice to police for limited legal protections. State lawyers called it a modest power suite for safety after the anti-Semitic bond eye attack, but judges disagreed. The Shexup House police handled post-taire protests, moving forward, forcing a rethink on balancing security and free speech down under.