The politics of protest: Minns faces a backlash over double standards and undermining free speech

Chris Minns has not only failed in his leadership responsibilities but has alienated a significant part of the population he is meant to represent.

Photograph: Alessio Cavallaro.

The Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, has raised the controversial idea of shutting down the pro-Palestine protests that have become a regular occurrence in Sydney. Minns’ primary justification revolves around the costs associated with policing these protests, suggesting that such financial burdens on the state are unsustainable. However, this rationale, presented as a pragmatic response to budgetary constraints, fails to address the broader implications for freedom of speech and protest in Australia. What we are witnessing is a deliberate attempt to suppress a significant political movement under the guise of fiscal responsibility.

The suggested costs associated with these protests, claimed to be upwards of $5.4 million over the past year, seem questionable. The pro-Palestine gatherings in Sydney, have been largely peaceful, where the attendees chant, wave signs, and give speeches – hardly the kind of activities that demand such a heavy police presence and each event, which typically lasts for about two hours, does not resemble the kind of disruptive or violent events that would justify an inflated price tag on law enforcement. The NSW police union has already dismissed the idea that patrolling these protests is preventing them from addressing crime elsewhere. This raises the question: what is the real motivation behind Minns’ push to ban these protests?

At the core of his argument is a thinly veiled pandering to Sydney’s influential pro-Israel lobby. It is a familiar tactic: drown out dissenting voices, particularly when they challenge entrenched interests. The pro-Palestine protests represent a growing public consciousness about the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the Middle East, and these protests serve as a legitimate expression of outrage at the actions of the Israeli government and the Israel Defense Forces. By attempting to silence these voices, Minns is not only undermining free speech but aligning himself with a particular political agenda that seeks to shield Israel from criticism in the public sphere.

This move also flies in the face of historical precedent in Australia, where the right to protest has long been regarded as a fundamental aspect of democratic engagement. Minns seems to have forgotten, or is wilfully ignoring, the labor movement’s own historical roots in public protest and civil disobedience. The Labor Party, under whose banner Minns serves, was itself forged in the collective action and resistance against a government. To now attempt to limit or shut down peaceful protests against a foreign government’s actions, as well as to protest against the inaction of the Australian government – especially when those actions and inactions are increasingly seen as unjust and oppressive – is a betrayal of the principles Minns should be defending.

The argument about cost ignores an obvious solution: scale back the unnecessary and excessive police presence at these events. The protests have consistently remained peaceful, and the several skirmishes that have occurred over the past year have been primarily caused by Zionist agitators. Many attendees bring their children; there are no signs of the violence or chaos that would justify lining the streets with police officers. Reducing the police force at these gatherings would not only cut costs significantly but also reflect the reality of the situation – the fact that these are not dangerous protests.

The leadership of Minns has been a disappointment for many who hoped for a progressive and dynamic direction since he became Premier in March 2023. Instead, he has come across as a continuation of the same policies and approaches seen under his Liberal Party predecessors, Dominic Perrottet and Gladys Berejiklian and his handling of the pro-Palestine protests is just one more example of this conservative, risk-averse approach. By framing the protests as a financial burden, Minns is diverting attention from the real issue at hand: the right of people to protest against what they can see is an ongoing genocide. In a world where political leaders are increasingly expected to take bold and principled stands, Minns seems content to sidestep controversy and cater to established power structures.

Alienating communities and undermining Labor values

The commentary provided by Minns over the pro-Palestine protests – to the right-wing shockjock, Ben Fordham at Radio 2GB – not only signal a disconnect from Labor’s historic values, but they also reveal a troubling pattern of double standards that risks alienating a significant portion of the NSW community, particularly the Islamic and pro-Palestine groups.

By focusing on the financial cost of these protests while simultaneously remaining silent on other, arguably more costly and disruptive protests, Minns is sending a clear message: the voices of some communities are more burdensome and less welcome than others. This is a dangerous road for any political leader, but especially for one leading a party that traditionally prides itself on inclusivity and justice, and seem to be designed to stoke division within the community.

Rather than engaging in meaningful dialogue with the pro-Palestine protesters, or addressing the legitimate concerns of the Islamic community, Minns has chosen to position these protests as a costly inconvenience. Yet, if the federal and NSW governments and political class had not been so steadfastly one-sided in their support of Israel, or if they had engaged in more balanced and open dialogue with these communities, such protests might not even be necessary. The protests themselves are a direct response to being systematically ignored, and Minns’ attempts to shut them down without addressing the root cause will only exacerbate the issue.

There is also glaring inconsistency in the NSW Government’s approach to protest. While the pro-Palestine gatherings are labelled as too costly and are viewed as disruptive, other protests, such as the anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine demonstrations that took place during the pandemic, went on for nearly two years without similar complaints from the government. Some of these protests were openly hostile, with participants openly calling for the execution of political leaders, yet there was no outcry over the police resources needed to manage them. Similarly, neo-Nazi rallies have been treated with far more leniency, with police presence often seen as more of an escort than a control measure. Where is the outrage over the costs of these events? Where is the call for them to be banned or scaled back?

Minns’ failure to apply a consistent standard suggests that his actions are less about fiscal responsibility and more about political posturing. The fact that Minns would never dream of asking the Jewish community to refrain from public shows of support for Israel due to cost only highlights the double standard further. If he were to make such a suggestion, the backlash would be swift and severe, and rightly so. Yet, when it comes to the Islamic community, their right to peaceful protest is treated as expendable.

Even within his own party, Minns is facing backlash for this stance. Several Labor MPs have spoken out against his push to ban protests on the basis of cost, warning that such actions threaten civil liberties. This criticism highlights a growing concern that Minns is out of touch not only with the values of his own party but with the broader electorate as well. There is also a notable reluctance among many Labor MPs to openly support Palestine, fearing political retribution or alienation, and this reflects the broader atmosphere of suppression around the issue, where open support for Palestine is often stifled or discouraged, even within supposed progressive circles.

Ultimately, Minns’ approach to these protests raises serious questions about his fitness to be a Labor Premier. His failure to engage with the concerns of the pro-Palestine community, coupled with his consistent appeasement of pro-Israel lobby groups, suggests he is a leader more interested in maintaining the status quo than in representing the diverse voices of his electorate. This behaviour might be more fitting for a leader on the conservative side of politics, but it has no place in a party that claims to champion the rights of the oppressed and marginalised.

The Labor Party, at its best, is a party of inclusion, social justice, and equality. Its leaders are expected to stand up for all communities, not just the ones with the most political capital or influence. Chris Minns has not only failed in his leadership responsibilities but has alienated a significant part of the population he is meant to represent. If he continues down this path, he risks not only losing the trust of these communities but also jeopardising the very fabric of the multicultural society that Sydney prides itself on being.