‘I back it 100 per cent’: Minns defends two-week ban on protests

NSW Premier Chris Minns has defended the police commissioner’s snap decision to restrict public gatherings and protests for two weeks in Sydney following the Bondi attack, saying a situation in which “mass protests rip apart our social cohesion” could not be risked.

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon made the declaration late on Wednesday to ban public assemblies and protests from Sydney’s central, north-west and south-west policing areas for 14 days, with the potential for the ban to be extended for up to three months.

During this time, any applications to hold protests will not be accepted, and protests that go ahead will be considered unauthorised.

Speaking on Thursday, Minns said he was “grateful” for Lanyon’s decision and he “backs it 100 per cent”.

“I know that they’re extraordinary powers. We believe they are absolutely essential in keeping order and peace during this Christmas period and through the opening days of summer,” he said.

“We just can’t have a situation at the moment when mass protests rip apart our social cohesion. We’ve got an obligation to pull people together right now, and this is the right call.”

The decision was made under sweeping new laws tightening gun ownership and placing restrictions on protests that passed in NSW parliament around 3am on Wednesday.

The legislation in the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 has three key elements: creating an offence for displaying terrorist symbols, such as the IS flag; significant restrictions on firearm possession; and allowing the police commissioner to prevent protests occurring for up to three months after a terrorism incident.

Under the new laws, most licence holders will be able to own a maximum of four guns. Farmers and recreational shooters will be able to own up to 10 guns.

Minns said he would not speculate when asked whether the declaration, which can be extended to up to 90 days, would impact “Invasion Day” protests from going ahead on January 26.

“I’m not going to get into the ins and outs of it, that’s two designations away,” Minns said. “What I can guarantee is the police commissioner and the government will act in the interest of the people of NSW to keep us safe.

“Our No.1 obligation right now and forever is to keep the public safe, and we’re going to take whatever steps and whatever actions we believe are necessary to do that.”

Lanyon on Wednesday night said NSW police would be “committed to exercising these new powers responsibly and transparently”.

“In the immediate aftermath of the attack at Bondi last week, further protest activity would aggravate fear and divisiveness in the community at a time when we need to build safety and confidence,” he said.

“This is a time for community to come together and to show respect and courtesy – it’s not a time for large public assemblies and division. The community deserves to be safe and feel safe.”

with Angus Thomson

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