CEO of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies Michele Goldman, and the Head of Legal of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Simone Abel have issued the following joint statement after the conclusion of proceedings in the NSW Court of Appeal earlier today concerning the proposed protest at Sydney Opera House on October 12:

“The right to engage in public protest is fundamental but not unlimited.  Like all rights it has to be balanced against the equally fundamental rights of other people.  The first major Gaza protest took place at the forecourt of the Opera House two days after the Hamas atrocities against Israel on 7 October 2023. The protest became notorious for its chants of “f… the Jews”, flag burning and other acts that desecrated one of our national icons and brought international condemnation upon Australia.”

“This protest set the tone for far too many others that have followed. They have taken over major public spaces on a weekly basis and made them no-go areas for Jewish Australians or any other Australians who disagree with the views of the protesters.  No citizens should be subjected to these kinds of restrictions on their freedom and should be able to go about their daily lives anywhere in public without facing threats, harassment or intimidation.”

“Despite this, at no time in the two years since the Hamas atrocities in Israel sparked the current war, have we sought to legally challenge a proposed march or alter its route.  Even now, we are not attempting to stop people from protesting.  But the protest organisers’ calculated decision to locate this latest protest at the Sydney Opera House, and to time it within days of the raw emotions evoked by the anniversary of the 7 October atrocities and the 9 October riotous scenes, is callous and reprehensible.”

“This is all the more reason why the Court was right not to authorise the protest to take over the Opera House precinct and risk repeating the disgraceful scenes of two years ago.  Our community feels relieved and vindicated by this decision, and we know from the many messages of support we have received from the wider community that many others share this view.”

MEDIA:

Executive Council of Australian Jewry | [email protected]

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies | [email protected]