Anastasia Radievska, a prominent rights campaigner, is urging New South Wales (NSW) authorities to reconsider current restrictions on protests as Australia Day approaches. She highlights the lack of accountability during the 2021 uprising and the need for greater protections for those participating in large-scale demonstrations. Radievska’s remarks come after a Declaration of Public Assembly Restriction. This dubious declaration of emergency has led to confusion and fear for the legality of protests moving onto roadways.
Radievska in conversation with ABC. Lastly, she explained how the current declaration limits citizens from freely and safely sharing their opinions in public spaces. At the moment, New South Wales does not have any protections in place for how police go about determining to restrict protests. This unprecedented lack of oversight is really scary,” she said. Her comments underscore the increasing fear about the erosion of community rights and the right to public safety.
Limitations of Current Regulations
Sydney’s recent local police restrictions have similarly created more barriers for individuals wanting to participate in protests. As a consequence, many will be turned away from participating. Radievska noted that these types of measures are an extreme form of blocking legal protests that might stop traffic from going through. She wished the protesters well. We certainly don’t want them to fear they’re going to get booked for being on a street or just occupying a sidewalk.
The rights campaigner underlined that the state should prove an assessment like a real risk does exist or possibly be held accountable for effectively restricting the freedom of assembly. Asking mere speculation of a risk of violence, she claimed, is not enough. The simple potential that government might not have capacity to deter or disarm opposition violence is insufficient, too. This pernicious perspective injects dangerous conversations into the deliberative space, asking whether public safety or the need to protest should prevail.
Community Impact and First Nations Protests
Radievska is particularly worried about how these restrictions may affect First Nations communities, who often organize significant protests around January 26. She said she was worried about what these restrictions will mean for the capacity of communities to protest. This is particularly so with respect to the increasingly prominent First Nations demonstrations on January 26, which is Australia Day. The date is a highly contentious period in Australian history and is deeply significant to many Indigenous Australians.
The outdated and confusing framework that currently governs protest restrictions has necessitated calls for a complete overhaul. Radievska is passionate about having sufficient protections in place. These steps will help protect people’s ability to dissent, protest, and assemble, creating a safer environment for everyone to do so without facing arrest or intimidation.
Police Authority and Future Considerations
In response to increased concerns, a spokesperson for the NSW Police Force confirmed that police are aware of such worries. Their announcement noted that the Police Commissioner will review amendments to the Public Assembly Restriction Declaration in the days ahead. With decisions like this, there is always a reason behind the operational discretion used by the NSW Police Force. They use smart intelligence, risk assessments, and their long experience and knowledge of the community threat environment.
Authorities have committed to reviewing the declaration closer to the end of its 14-day period while considering ongoing community safety impacts. The team will continue to monitor the declaration as we get closer to the end of the 14-day period. They will consider the long-term effects of these protests on the safety of their community.
