NSW transport warns people to expect major delays from Sydney protest
Transport for NSW says people in Sydney should expect major delays and disruptions on roads and public transport today because the Sydney Harbour Bridge will be closed for the pro-Palestine march.
The bridge will be closed from 11.30am until about 4pm, the agency says, advising people to delay non-essential travel in the CBD and in North Sydney.
Several roads in the city and to the north will be closed and long queues are expected to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, extending to the western distributor, Anzac Bridge, Rozelle Interchange and the eastern distributor in the south, and Gore Hill Freeway and Lane Cove Tunnel “and all of the roads linking into these major corridors”.
Bus services will stop at North Sydney or Wynyard while the bridge is closed and travellers should expect crowding on platforms.
People can stay up to date with road issues on the agency’s sites for live traffic and transport alerts.
Here’s our round up of the travel disruptions from yesterday afternoon.
Key events
Benita Kolovos
Protestors to blockade King Street Bridge in Melbourne
Protesters in Melbourne are also planning to blockade the King Street bridge from midday on Sunday in solidarity with NSW demonstrators.
Event organisers Free Palestine Coalition Naarm urged supporters to “block the city for Gaza” and to bring pots and pans to “highlight the manufactured starvation that is causing mass casualties in Gaza.” In asocial media post, the group said:
These shut downs are in preparation for international mass strikes, sanctions and blockades to end Israeli impunity.
Victoria police on Friday said they had made “repeated requests” for protesters to change their plans, as blocking the bridge – which provides a major thoroughfare into the city – could delay emergency services.
They said there would be a visible police presence in the city on Sunday “to keep the peace and ensure the safety of the community.”
The premier, Jacinta Allan, on Saturday said she supported police efforts. From the state Labor conference, where several Palestine motions passed, she said:
Anyone intending to disrupt emergency services or every day Victorians going about their Sunday safely, anyone who then intends to disrupt that, will be dealt with swiftly.
Organisers have said they would let emergency services vehicles through.
“Rain, hail, or shine, we will free Palestine!” says Sydney march organiser
As thousands make their way to Lang Park in Sydney for the start of a march in support of Palestinians, the organisers Palestine Action Group have asked people to arrive early for the 1pm start.
“Rain, hail, or shine, we will free Palestine!” the group said in a post on Facebook this morning. The weather forecast for the city is for rain.
Be patient and look out for each other.
Transport for NSW warned earlier today of extensive road and bus delays. The bridge itself will be closed from 11.30am. The action group said:
We urge everyone to plan for a long day, bring wet-weather gear, plenty of water and snacks.
The Palestine movement is an anti-racist movement. We will not tolerate any form of racism or bigotry, including antisemitism or Islamophobia.
Any flags or symbols which could be considered in breach of Australian legislation must not be brought or displayed.
The group’s demands are to allow all aid into Gaza; Israel to call an immediate ceasefire and withdraw from Gaza; “sanction Israel now”; and for Australia to end any arms trade with Israel.
Flood warnings for NSW rivers as heavy rain and snow lashes parts of state
There’s a lot of rain and snow around in NSW, with several rivers under a flood warning.
NSW State Emergency Service has responded to more than 1,455 incidents because of rain, thunderstorms and snow.
The agency says “unprecedented snowfall” around Armidale and Guyra yesterday has created dangerous road conditions.
Hunter, Peel and Namoi rivers are all under a major flood warning from the Bureau of Meteorology.
There are minor flood warnings for the Macleay, Manning, Nepean, Paterson, Williams and Myall rivers.
The rain and storms have come from a coastal low pressure system that senior bureau meteorologist Miriam Bradbury says is dragging moisture on to the land.
Krishani Dhanji
Indigenous minister Malarndirri McCarthy asks for peaceful protest on “significant day”
Federal politicians have been responding to the planned protest on the Sydney Harbour Bridge today, calling for the protesters to ensure the demonstrations are peaceful.
Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, told Sky News Agenda this morning that today will be a “significant day”.
I would just encourage people to protest peacefully, look out for others. It is going to be a significant day down in Sydney today and with the court decision that came through yesterday … It is a right that we have in this country.
Coalition frontbencher Dan Tehan also spoke to Sky this morning, and said protesting is a “right” in Australia.
But he also questioned whether the protest would increase support for Gaza by the broader public.
I think the right to protest, freedom of speech, freedom of movement, is something that’s fundamental to our nation …
What the organisers of protest need to think about is, will their actions actually help their cause or not? I think blocking the Sydney Harbour Bridge for that extent of time might not do their cause the good that they’re seeking to do.
Krishani Dhanji
ACTU repeats call for Australia to recognise Palestinian state
The Australian Council of Trade Unions Secretary, Sally McManus, says the government should “urgently” recognise a Palestinian state.
McManus is on the ABC Insiders program this morning, and says the number of innocent people that have been killed is in the tens of thousands, and “now people are being starved”.
We think that it is urgent that our government does recognise Palestine as a state, and you know, we need to do this urgently, and the reason is because people are starving.
The ACTU has long supported a two state solution, and has been calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza since conflict broke out after the 7 October attacks by Hamas.
NSW transport warns people to expect major delays from Sydney protest
Transport for NSW says people in Sydney should expect major delays and disruptions on roads and public transport today because the Sydney Harbour Bridge will be closed for the pro-Palestine march.
The bridge will be closed from 11.30am until about 4pm, the agency says, advising people to delay non-essential travel in the CBD and in North Sydney.
Several roads in the city and to the north will be closed and long queues are expected to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, extending to the western distributor, Anzac Bridge, Rozelle Interchange and the eastern distributor in the south, and Gore Hill Freeway and Lane Cove Tunnel “and all of the roads linking into these major corridors”.
Bus services will stop at North Sydney or Wynyard while the bridge is closed and travellers should expect crowding on platforms.
People can stay up to date with road issues on the agency’s sites for live traffic and transport alerts.
Here’s our round up of the travel disruptions from yesterday afternoon.
Sydney MP Ed Husic to march with pro-Palestine protesters
Western Sydney Labor MP Ed Husic believes it is the images of starving children in Gaza that has spurred many people to publicly support Palestinian people.
Talking to the ABC, Husic says Australians are “deeply, deeply affected by the images they are seeing out of Gaza” of starving people.
Husic, who the ABC reported would join the Sydney march, says protesters want to send “a strong message through peaceful protests to governments, both here and abroad, that the killing has got to stop”.
Images of starving children is not only unacceptable, he says, it breaks international law and “offends our values as people, so I think you’re going to see today people turn out to send the message that they want to see this all end”.
I want us today at this march to demonstrate to project our commitment to humanity and to the value of human life. It is very important. In doing so, we also need to recognise and work towards keeping our communities together.
I feel really strongly that Jewish Australians or Muslim Australians cannot be held to account for the decisions of players or governments in other parts of the world. We have to recognise that. People should be able to practise their faith, go about their lives, their daily lives, without feeling fear. That’s really important.
On the question of recognising a Palestinian state, Husic says it is right that Australia should join with others, including Canada, France and the UK.
I think it’s right for our country to be able to join with friends, recognise Palestine now and for all the pre-conditions that we have set, have the best ability to do so by working early with big players on the international scene.
‘Incredibly chaotic’: Sussan Ley questions pro-Palestine Sydney protest
The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, has questioned the pro-Palestine protest in Sydney due later today, saying it could have happened elsewhere without “massive diversion of police resources”.
Talking to the ABC, Ley says everyone wants to “see the bloodshed stop” and says the war could end tomorrow with a Hamas surrender and the release of hostages.
She says she remains “a friend of the Palestinian people” and says Palestinians in Gaza need to be fed, but she has questioned the need to shut the Harbour Bridge.
We are seeing protests now regular – this is going to happen on an ongoing basis – it is going to create massive diversion of police resources. What are they not going to be able to do because they are dealing with this?
The language of the people running this protest doesn’t sound peaceful to me and protests, of course, can happen in Australia. I respect the right of free speech and protest, but this is taking it to another level – shutting down a major access route, the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The protest could happen elsewhere, and I also know of law enforcement, quite concerned about what they will have to do in response to this. This is obviously, with respect to something that has happened overseas and I’ve just described how I believe Australians feel about that, but we don’t need to shut down something as important as the Harbour Bridge and there is work being done on the Metro as well, so this is going to be incredibly chaotic for Sydneysiders today.
We need peace first. Everyone wants to see this war end.
Woman washed away by flood waters in Hunter wild weather
Emergency services are searching for a woman who police were told had escaped from a vehicle that was stuck in flood waters in the Hunter region.
Officers were called at about 7.50pm yesterday to Black Creek, 16 km north of Cessnock. The driver and passenger of a Mini Countryman had been seen getting out of the car.
The driver escaped uninjured but the passenger, thought to be in her 20s, was swept away.
After NSW SES arrived, a 40-year-old man was also rescued after becoming stuck in a tree and then being pushed out and through the waters.
NSW police promise heavy presence for Sydney pro-Palestine march
NSW police is promising a heavy presence for the pro-Palestine march in Sydney, saying hundreds of officers will be checking for “unlawful and anti-social behaviour”.
Adam Johnson, the Central Metropolitan Region Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner , said community safety was the focus.
The first and upmost priority for NSW police is always the safety of those protesting, other members of the public who may be impacted by the protest, and the officers involved in the operation.
Police will have a high-visibility presence at the operation today and will work with participants to ensure there are no breaches of the peace.
We ask all those who will be participating in the protest to please follow police directions and respect those around you. We also encourage other members of the public to avoid the area if possible
The police said hundreds of officers were briefed from 8am today ahead of the march and the closure of the bridge, expected at 11.30am.
The march itself is due to start at 1pm, with protesters gathering at Lang Park.
Good morning
Good morning. Graham Readfearn here, bringing your live news coverage for Sunday, with a lot going on.
Later this morning, tens of thousands of people are expected to begin gathering at Lang Park in Sydney for a march across the Harbour Bridge in support of Palestine. Protesters are also planning to blockade the King Street bridge in Melbourne at lunchtime.
There’s also wild weather across NSW with the State Emergency Service responding to more than 1,400 incidents due to severe rainfall, thunderstorms and snow.
We’ll have a lot more detail on all this and more through the day.
Stay safe and if you are heading out in NSW, check the weather and go prepared.
