New South Wales Police Minister Yasmin Catley has launched a vehement critique against organizers of a pro-Palestine demonstration that descended into violent confrontations with law enforcement in February. During a rigorous budget estimates hearing, Catley characterized the Palestine Action Group (PAG) as “untruthful” in their commitments to authorities regarding the nature of their protest.
The contentious gathering, which drew over 3,000 participants to Sydney’s Town Hall on February 9, coincided with Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s diplomatically sensitive visit to Australia. While Herzog’s presence received support from segments of the Jewish community, it faced vehement opposition from pro-Palestinian advocates and human rights organizations who leveled serious allegations against the visiting leader.
Minister Catley revealed that police had established clear parameters with protest organizers for a stationary demonstration. However, she asserted that a faction of attendees subsequently turned “belligerent,” initiating unauthorized marches and inflammatory chants. “Innocent people believed they were attending a peaceful rally,” Catley stated, “and it turned nasty because of the intentions of those who were in charge.”
The political confrontation intensified when Greens MLC Sue Higginson challenged whether Catley was effectively blaming protest organizers for police actions currently under investigation by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. These probes include examining law enforcement’s disruption of Islamic prayers during the event. Catley firmly rejected this interpretation while maintaining that PAG had violated their “firm commitment” to authorities.
In a related development, the hearing addressed firearm regulatory matters following the Bondi Beach tragedy. Catley acknowledged significant delays in license processing, describing wait times of over two years as “inadequate” and “not satisfactory.” She also revealed that firearms regulations hastily passed in December following the Bondi incident wouldn’t be fully operational until September, drawing criticism from opposition legislators regarding the legislative timeline.