Safety fears have been raised in a bid to block a pro-Palestine protest on a major bridge, with police warning a magistrate it could be dangerous.
Queensland Police launched legal action on Thursday in a bid to stop thousands marching on Brisbane’s Story Bridge on Sunday as part of a national day of action.
Chief Magistrate Janelle Brassington reserved her decision until Thursday afternoon.
But Justice for Palestine rally organisers have indicated they could defy any court order and go ahead with the protest that will highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Up to 10,000 people were expected to attend the Brisbane rally as part of the nationwide day of action that has been billed as the largest pro-Palestine demonstration in Australia’s history.
Queensland Police’s senior lawyer Marshall Bostock made the application to Brisbane Magistrates Court seeking to have the protest declared unauthorised.
“If there were anti-social behaviour on the bridge during the course of the procession, (senior police leadership) would not be able to send police in to adequately respond,” Mr Bostock said.
Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said there was insufficient fencing to stop protesters from climbing from the bridge’s road lanes to its footpaths, which were in an unsafe state of disrepair.
Justice for Palestine Magan-djin’s barrister Angus Scott told Ms Brassington it was not reasonable or necessary for public safety fears to block the march.
“It’s not enough to point to inconvenience, disruption or the fact that a sporting game is in the nearby vicinity,” he said.
Police and Brisbane rally organisers had attempted mediations earlier this week but had failed to come to a decision.
Protest organiser Remah Naji said they were set to march regardless of the magistrate’s decision.
“Plan B is to go ahead, we plan to march across the Story Bridge on the 24th of August,” she told Nine Network’s Today Show on Thursday.
Asked whether demonstrators were willing to break the law to protest, Ms Naji said: “We’re willing to march across the Story Bridge and raise awareness and pressure our government to act in times of genocide”.
“We have an obligation and all we want our government to act in accordance with international law.”
The march is set to mirror a recent demonstration across Sydney’s Harbour Bridge in which nearly 100,000 people attended in a sea of ponchos amid wet weather.
NSW Premier Chris Minns on Thursday said he would consider introducing legislation to stop the Harbour Bridge being used for protests.
“I’m not ruling it out,” he said.
“The government has to balance the public’s right to protest against the public’s right to enjoy a big city like Sydney.”
The planned Brisbane protest was supported by civil society groups who said the court action was a waste of taxpayer money.
“This unprecedented move undermines the right to peaceful assembly and sets a dangerous precedent for democracy in Queensland and across Australia,” Australian Democracy Network campaigner Anastasia Radievska said.
“Taking community organisers to court every time there’s a protest police dislike is an unacceptable waste of taxpayer money.”
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