Democracy and the right to protest

Chris Minns has made attacking the right to protest a defining feature of his government. The Minns Government has launched attacks on the right to protest not seen since the first Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 1978 when the right to march without seeking police permission was first won.

His government tried to stop the Sydney Harbour March for Humanity, where hundreds of thousands marched against the famine and bombardment of Gaza. It has attempted to rush through new restrictions on demonstrations and backed aggressive policing of protesters opposing the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog in early 2026. Minns has continued to defend NSW Police despite footage and eyewitness accounts of protesters being kicked, punched, pepper-sprayed and struck with batons, including Muslims who were praying.

Protest is a basic democratic right that must be defended. It is one of the few ways working class people can challenge the power of governments, corporations and other powerful institutions. In NSW, protest and civil disobedience have played a central role in winning rights and reforms, from gay liberation and abortion rights to Aboriginal land rights, workplace safety and opposition to the Vietnam War and conscription. Put simply, many of the rights and freedoms we have today were won because people were prepared to organise, strike and protest.

The right to strike is one of the strongest powers workers have to improve our lives. The Minns government has repeatedly tried to restrain workers and their unions, appealing to the Industrial Relations Commission to ban strikes, impose injunctions and criminalise workers exercising the democratic right to withdraw their labour and refuse to work. Democracy must include the right of workers to organise collectively, strike and resist injustice.

We’ll fight for

Repeal NSW's draconian anti-protest laws & investigate police violence

Repeal the Roads and Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 which threatens protestors blocking infrastructure and roads with fines of up to $22,000, up to two years in prison, or both.
Repeal the Public Assembly Restriction Declaration (PARD) scheme which was used to grant impunity to police during the protest against Isaac Herzog.
Drop charges against peaceful protesters and activists arrested during demonstrations.
Launch an independent investigation into the behaviour of NSW police during the demonstration against Isaac Herzog. Immediately stand down without pay all police under investigation. Publicly release all documentation of the protest including body-worn footage and communication between the Minns government and police.
Ban the use of move-on orders by police during protests.
Ban the imposition of bail restrictions, including restrictions on association and movement, for arrests related to protests.
Ban the use of sound cannons, water cannons, tasers and so-called “less--lethal” weapons such as rubber bullets and OC spray during strikes and protests.

Support the right to strike, protest and assembly

End police repression of Palestine solidarity and climate activism.
Oppose political surveillance and excessive police powers.
Legislate the right to strike in NSW without restriction, including secondary boycotts
Introduce a state level human rights act which includes the right to assembly, freedom of speech, right of association and right to strike.
Remove all legal restrictions on the right to protest and introduce greater protections for the right to protest.. This includes abolishing the ‘form 1’ system which puts an onus on protest organisers to notify police with 7 days notice.

Defend and extend civil liberties and democratic rights

Introduce laws protecting whistle-blowers and prohibit contracts and laws that prevent the disclosure of criminal or corrupt behaviour.
Introduce laws to protect the free speech of all workers including amending the public sector code of conduct.
Amend the Electoral Act to give all permanent residents the right to vote in state elections.
Abolish Operation Soteria used to target at-risk children between 11 and 16 years old. At risk kids need housing, welfare, counselling, education support and community programs not surveillance, incarceration and institutionalisation.