In a public assistance appeal, New South Wales (NSW) Police has released Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) images from the Sydney Opera House.
Man Police Wish To Speak To Video: NSW Police
With inquiries still continuing, the images are of a man of medium to heavy build with short dark hair and beard & at the time, he was wearing spectacles, a black hooded jacket, grey pants, black shoes and a black and white scarf.
NSW Police wish to speak with this man as part of their inquiries:
Man Police Wish To Question Photograph: NSW Police
The man featured in the images above is not involved with the alleged assault detailed below but with separate Police inquires.
On the 17th of October, NSW Police reported they are investigating an alleged assault that occurred at the Sydney Opera House when the Israeli flag colours were illuminated on the World Heritage Site’s sails on the 9th of October at 7:30pm. A pro-Arab protest at the time had already gathered on the site’s Southern Forecourt.
At that time, a 45-year-old man allegedly became involved in an argument with a male group. The man during the alleged argument was then allegedly assaulted and spat on. Police intervened & the arguers then dispersed and left the Sydney Opera House.
The 45-year-old man then reported the alleged assault to Maroubra Police. The next day, Operation Mealing investigators were notified & commenced an investigation. NSW Police later released, on the 17th of October, CCTV images of 5 people, 4 male & 1 female, they believe would be able to assist with the investigation into the alleged assault. All the men were described as being of “Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance” and wearing a white and blue keffiyeh.
The 5 people NSW Police wanted to speak to in regard to their assault investigation. Photographs: NSW Police
The 1st man was described as being of aged in his 20s, of solid build & having tattoos on both legs. He was wearing black sunglasses, a white shirt, black shorts, long black socks & black shoes.
The 2nd man was described as aged in his 20s, of a medium build, had a moustache & was wearing a white shirt with both Aboriginal and Palestinian flags printed on it, black pants as well as black and white Vans.
The 3rd man was described as aged in his early 20s, of a tall build, with medium-length curly black hair and having a stubbly goatee & was wearing a white shirt.
The 4th man was described as aged in his 20s, of a medium build, with short black hair and had a black beard & was wearing a black tracksuit and white shoes.
The woman was described as Caucasian appearance with long blonde hair & was wearing a black hoodie featuring a red and yellow print, black leggings, long white socks and pink shoes.
2 31-year-old men then attended Mosman Police Station where they were arrested & at 11pm on 17th of October, were taken to Day Street Police Station. They were later charged with common assault & granted “strict conditional bail” to face Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 8th of November 2023.
Following more inquiries, NSW Police then arrested a 19-year-old man in Roselands on the 18th of October, who was taken to Hurstville Police Station & was charged with 2 counts of common assault and granted “conditional bail” to also appear at the same Court on the same day as the other 2 men charged.
Inquiries into the alleged assault are continuing.
Anyone with further information that may assist Operation Mealing investigators is urged to contact Sydney City Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
On Monday the 16th of October 2023, Parliamentarians from the Australian House Of Representatives & Senate condemned the antisemitic chants made by some people at the pro-Arab protest at the Sydney Opera House’s Southern Forecourt.
A few Parliamentarians also criticised the New South Wales Government’s response to the pro-Arab protest & its aftermath while Lidia Thorpe, Independent Senator For Victoria criticised the fact the Sydney Opera House was only lit up in the colours of the Israeli flag and not the Palestinian flag as well.
During the Federal Opposition Leader (In The House Of Representatives), Peter Dutton’s comments, he quoted some of the anti-Jewish & anti-Israel comments. In response to this, a Government member shouted back “Stop saying it”. Due to a delay in the Government member shouting that, Peter Dutton thought it was in response to this next sentence, which said “condemn those comments”. He therefore shouted back to the Government member “Shame on you for condoning those words”, which drew loud shouted jeers of outrage from at least the whole Government side.
Later on, the Australian Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, criticised Peter Dutton for that response.
You can find the full quotes for all Parliamentarians below:
The awful anti-Semitism chanted by some of the protesters at the Sydney Opera House is beyond offensive. It is a betrayal of our Australian values. We reject it & we condemn it. Our country is better than that & our country is a better place because of our Jewish community.
Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister Of Australia
We understand that, over a long period of time, these issues have been complex & that there are people in our country who hold passionate views about them but there was no excuse for the scenes & the chants that we heard outside the Sydney Opera House last Monday. That was nothing other than ugly anti-Semitism & it completely diminishes any attempt to advocate on the part of the innocent.
Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister Of Australia
Let me make this important point: events abroad must be no justification for rising tensions within our own communities. It’s particularly repugnant that some Australians have decided to take to the streets to celebrate Hamas’s attack on Israel & the slaughter of innocent Israeli children, women and men. We heard an odious barrage of comments on the attacks, describing them—in our country!—as a day of pride & a day of victory. Moreover, the rally which occurred on the evening of Monday 9 October at the Sydney Opera House was an abomination & a day of shame for our nation.
Australia’s Jewish community were unable to gather at our iconic landmark, which, to the credit of the New South Waes Government, had been illuminated in blue & white as a sign of support. They wanted to be there to mourn loved ones who have been lost & to express their solidarity. The anti-Israel protesters fired flares, burnt an Israeli flag & shouted words that we should never hear in our country or anywhere else in the civilised world, including ‘Gas the Jews’, ‘F the Jews’ & ‘F Israel.’ That was the depth of the sentiment & that is the reason we gather here today to condemn those comments. Such behaviour—
(“Stop saying it” – Government member)
— I won’t stop saying it. I’ll take the interjection. I won’t stop saying it because it should be condemned. The words should never have been said in the 1st place. Shame on you for condoning those words –
(Government side shouts with outrage)
– or suggesting that those words shouldn’t be condemned in this place. I won’t stop saying them & the Jewish community here in Australia deserves to hear you condemn them as well. That behaviour is a stain on the Australian character & a flagrant disregard of human decency. The Australians who watched the footage of those seething mobs & their sordid behaviour did not recognise their fellow countrymen.
Australia is not without its anti-Semitic elements. Both sides of politics have fought back against it as we have every other form of politically motivated violence but the rally at the Sydney Opera House escalated that anti-Semitism to another level. We have to recognise that because the impact it has had on the Jewish community here in Australia will take a lot to undo. We need to understand that level of anxiety in the Jewish community at present. Jewish parents are concerned about their children wearing their Jewish school uniform in public. In our country Jewish people are apprehensive about their safety when visiting a Jewish supermarket or practising their faith at a synagogue, not because of something they’ve done or said but because of who they are, because of their faith, because of their heritage, because of their belief. That’s the reason they are worried about their children being targeted in indiscriminate attacks, that they might be identified by their school uniform that they wear. That is the sentiment running deep within the Jewish community here in our country today.
Peter Dutton, Federal Opposition Leader In The House Of Representatives
There is unimaginable pain for so many people in our country—pain we seek to soothe as a united Parliament, pain we seek to soothe as a united people but pain that for many was compounded as a result of the disgraceful scenes we saw at Sydney’s Opera House last week. We should never be in a situation in our great country where we rightly make a significant symbolic gesture to support a group of people facing trauma, only to then have such a failure in administration that this gesture backfires & further upsets them. I pay tribute to the New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns, for apologising to the Jewish community. He gave a fine speech at the vigil in Dover Heights but it is a timely reminder of just how deeply antisemitism does run across the world & even in sections of our country.
Sussan Ley, Federal Deputy Opposition Leader In The House Of Representatives
The story of the Jewish people is one of extraordinary courage & resilience but this week my community has faced a reality beyond our worst nightmares. We witnessed devastation in Israel only to be confronted with scenes at home in support of the perpetrators. Less than 24 hours after the attack, as the body count was rising, people gathered at our country’s most iconic landmark, the Sydney Opera House, & chanted antisemitic slurs echoing the worst of the Holocaust. We have seen flags burnt, Nazi salutes on Melbourne trains & a stream of online abuse with justifications of the murder of innocent Jewish lives. My community is heartbroken. My people are suffering. Trying to reconcile the atrocities overseas & the scenes at home, it makes the resolute support that I & the Jewish community have received from colleagues in this Parliament so meaningful.
Josh Burns, Chair Of Parliamentary Joint Committee On Human Rights
The gross antisemitic scenes on the steps of the Sydney Opera House stain our nation in shame. These abhorrent actions have instilled fear in Australia’s strong & proud Jewish community deepen that shame.
Last week I was in Brussels and Berlin & to be asked unprompted by members of other parliaments in nations far away about those scenes on the steps of the Sydney Opera House was not only embarrassing but disturbing. Is this Australia in 2023? I would hope not. While we defend the right to protest, there should be no effort spared to prosecute any who crossed the line through words or deeds to incite violence or further terrorism. Such sentiments have no place in Australia. The racist bigots who attracted this international attention do not reflect what I know the overwhelming majority of fair-minded, decent Australians stand for.
If the events in Israel & the reverberations we saw on the steps of the Opera House make us shudder, as they should, then when David Adler, the President of the Australian Jewish Association, says he has had reports of mobs driving around Sydney saying they are ‘looking for Jews’, then we need to act. We need to act when this is not an isolated event but the manifestation of what seems to be a dangerous creeping wave of antisemitism.
These actions require unequivocal condemnation. They require action across our security agencies at Federal & State levels to ensure our Jewish community feel & are safe in their homes, their schools, their workplaces & their daily lives.
Simon Birmingham, Federal Opposition Leader In The Senate
I think I speak on behalf of everyone in saying that the vile antisemitic comments that we have heard from some in the community & also the attacks of Hamas on innocent civilians which constitute war crimes are to be condemned. It is also contemptible to hear an attempt in this chamber early today from the Leader of the Opposition to try & weaponise it by suggesting that somehow someone in the government condoned any of those remarks. That is beneath contempt. It is beneath contempt on what should be a motion that is about expressing support for people who are on the receiving end of hate & there is no place for antisemitism and no place for Islamophobia in this country. We can have a debate in this place about the looming invasion & the need to fight for peace without the Leader of the Opposition falsely accusing people I might have a difference of opinion with, but I can bet my bottom dollar none of them back the vile antisemitic comments that we have heard. It is beneath contempt for the Leader of the Opposition to try & use this motion to prosecute that agenda.
Adam Bandt, Australian Greens Leader
There is no equivalence here between the State of Israel & the terrorist organisation Hamas. I regret to say that too many people have not been able to see the true moral position here. On 1 side, you have one of our allies, a democratic state & on the other side, you have a terrorist organisation which believes Israel should not exist. In fact, one of its stated aims is to destroy Israel. That’s why the scenes at the Sydney Opera House last Monday night were so disappointing. We saw a group of demonstrators celebrating the death of civilians. In doing so & uttering statements like ‘Gas the Jews’, they were breaking the New South Wales criminal code, which prevents the incitement of violence against the citizens of our state. I regret to say that we have not seen the action that should be applied here to protect our citizens.
Andrew Bragg, Liberal Senator For New South Wales
It should be noted we have seen no evidence of demonstrators celebrating the death of civilians.
In the midst of an ongoing conflict plagued by false binaries and misinformation, I want to take the short time that I do have to reflect on why it is that our actions here in Australia, and the condemnation of gross antisemitism that we witnessed on the steps of one of our greatest landmarks, matters. Generations of Jewish people have been subjected to the hateful prejudice of antisemitism. The grossest expression of antisemitism, the Holocaust, was a horror beyond comprehension.
The fundamental dignity of the human person, irrespective of their faith, nationality, ethnicity and the context into which they are born transcends politics and all borders. It must remain central to our hearts and to our politics. It can never be forgotten. When the innate dignity of any human life is minimised, we risk descent into the darkest depths of what humans are capable of. We risk the same evil that enabled the murder of six million Jews.
Deborah O’Neill, Labor Senator For New South Wales
There was a wholly inadequate response from the New South Wales Government to the protest march at the Opera House. It beggars belief that those racist, bigoted zealots were allowed to get on with their day after that appalling behaviour. The one person that got arrested was a man who peacefully was carrying an Israeli flag whilst other protesters at the Opera House cried, ‘Gas the Jews.’ This is Australia in 2023. It’s appalling & we need to stand up against it. There were no NSC meetings called. All efforts were to downplay the significance of the event.
Bridget McKenzie, National Senator For Victoria
It should be noted that the arrest of the man carrying an Israeli flag was a couple of hours before some protesters at the Opera House cried “Gas the Jews”.
Let’s make no mistake about it: Hamas is synonymous with evil, the same evil that we saw perpetuated by the Nazis in the 2nd World War. Therefore, in my mind, there can be no doubt that Hamas is synonymous with the Nazis.
This was proven at that horrible march in Sydney following the attacks, on an occasion which was meant to be remembering the lives lost in Israel, where there were people chanting, ‘Gas the Jews.’ My family are Jewish. Can you imagine the effect, 70-odd years since the Holocaust, of again hearing people saying, ‘Gas the Jews’? We cannot stand for this. I am so heartbroken by the atrocities that we saw & they felt so close to home for me, my family, my friends in Israel and the Jewish community—in Melbourne in particular but right across Victoria.
David Van, Independent Senator For Victoria
I rise to speak to this motion as I think we’re all hurting. We’re hurting because, instead of moving towards peace—which is what every human being in this world desires—the world is being plunged into another war, costing thousands of lives already. We all know that that’s by far not the end of it. I also rise because the debate on the international stage so far & in this very country has been extremely 1-sided. Just a week ago, the Sydney Opera House & this very building were lit up in blue & white, a symbol of the undifferentiated position this Government takes on this conflict. The world & the Australian Government is portraying this as an assault on the Israeli people only as a further attempt to eradicate the Jewish people.
My thoughts are with the many lives lost & those families who have lost loved ones but this war goes beyond that & is also an attack on the Palestinian people. While the world mourns what has happened to Israelis, governments—including this one—seem to condone the tragedy unfolding for Palestinians. Israel’s indiscriminate bombings on Gaza are killing thousands of innocent people—people who already had to suffer for so many decades in what is often called the world’s biggest prison. These people didn’t attack Israel & yet they are the human collateral of Israel fighting back against Hamas with unprecedented force.
Lidia Thorpe, Independent Senator For Victoria
Since last weekend, nearly 200 people have emailed me & my team, feeling unsafe & shaken, especially after the disturbing antisemitic incident that occurred at the Sydney Opera House. 1 woman told me about how she was in one of the buildings in the CBD as people were marching down to the Opera House & saying slogans, some of which have been repeated today in the Parliament. She was scared & so many of my Jewish community in Wentworth are scared.
Condoning violence & celebrating attacks on innocent civilians is unacceptable. It is not part of this country. In the words of a very good friend of mine, ‘Australia is scary, which is awful, as it’s possibly one of the best places in the world to be Jewish.’ All of us in this place must speak with one voice in saying that this is unacceptable & we must ensure that those who are at risk of harm here are reminded through our words and deeds that they are safe, they are welcome & they are part of our community.
Allegra Spender, Member For Wentworth
What happened in our greatest city, Sydney, was nothing short of appalling. I never could have imagined a day when Jewish people in Sydney would be told by the Police that the streets were not safe nor indeed that the same police would arrest a man carrying an Israeli flag while giving an escort to the steps of the Opera House to antisemites celebrating the work of a listed terrorist organisation—which we in Australia have listed—murdering Jewish innocents.
Nor could I have imagined that antisemites would light flares & chant, ‘Gas the Jews!’ on the steps of Australia’s greatest cultural symbol while the police watched on—’Gas the Jews! Kill the Jews!’ at the Sydney Opera House in 2023! These people should be prosecuted for inciting the murder of their fellow Australians &, if possible, removed from our community.
Julian Leeser, Member For Berowra
We would like to note, at the Sydney Opera House protest. we have seen no evidence of antisemites celebrating Hamas’ murders of Jewish people nor the chant “Kill the Jews” being chanted. We also have no evidence that the flare lighters at the Sydney Opera House protest were antisemites.
The actions of protesters in Sydney last Monday evening were disgusting.
Recently, I was pleased to visit the Hornsby Dawah Community Service—the Hornsby Masjid—a centre for people of Islamic faith in my electorate & surrounding areas. I know that the good people who worship at the synagogues in my electorate are concerned about the safety of innocent Palestinian people in Gaza. I know that, equally, the people who worship at the Hornsby Masjid want to see peace, safety and security for all & I know that, despite the actions of a small number of people last Monday night, the overwhelming majority of Australians want to see Israeli people safe & people in Gaza safe.
Paul Fletcher, Member For Bradfield
I’m Jewish. I can trace my ancestry in this country on both sides back many generations.
As I’ve said, my family have lived in this country for many generations & what happened on the footsteps of the Opera House in Sydney recently, where people were chanting ‘Death to the Jews’ and ‘Gas the Jews’ is something that I never thought I would ever see in this country. It’s something that I am, as a Sydneysider, deeply ashamed of & I hope the people that were responsible for that are brought to justice.
Doctor Mike Freelander, Member For Macarthur
We would like to note we have no evidence that people were chanting ‘Death to the Jews’ at the pro-Arab protest at the Sydney Opera House.
The handling of the protest last week at the Opera House was a disgrace. The individuals who protested in an undignified way caused distress to Sydney’s Jewish community, who wanted to safely attend the Opera House to see the Israeli flag & to pray for their families who are in Israel.
Melissa McIntosh, Member For Lindsay
Some of the chants that I heard on the steps of the Sydney Opera House were an absolute disgrace & those people making them are un-Australian. We have to call that out continually because that is not the Australia that we want. We have to hold onto our humanity & there are examples of that in the Goulburn Valley, in my electorate of Nicholls.
We have arguments in this place, but we’ve got a great democracy & we’ve got a great social fabric but that has to be fought for. As part of the fight for it, you’ve got to call out evil when you see it & you’ve got to call out hatred and intolerance when you see it. We saw it in Sydney, regretfully & I called that out as well as condemning the evil attacks of Hamas on the south of Israel.
Iconic late-night Australian music video television program, Rage, is going to broadcast a Sydney Opera House 50th Birthday special.
This will be the 1st time ever Rage has broadcast sonically live (but not temporally live) music from the Sydney Opera House.
It will feature footage taken from some of the Sydney Opera House’s biggest performances in recent history including Iggy Pop, Vance Joy, Sampa The Great, Gurrumul & many more, including some from Vivid LIVE and 1 memorable performance from NYE!
Saturday the 21st of October at 11:50pm on Australian Broadcasting Corporation Television & iView.
A 90-minute version will broadcast at 10:30am that same day.
PLAYLIST
Note: ‘Violent Femmes’ featured in the 90-minute version & was not mentioned in the below playlist so there may be more than advertised!
11:50pm
KHRUANGBINTime (You and I) (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2022) (Dead Oceans)
KHRUANGBINPelota (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2022) (Dead Oceans)
KHRUANGBINPeople Everywhere (Still Alive) (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2022) (Independent)
12:00am
IGGY POPI Wanna Be Your Dog (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2019) (Virgin)
IGGY POPThe Passenger (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2019) (Virgin)
IGGY POPSearch and Destroy (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2019) (Virgin)
YAEJIRaingurl (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2023) () ***VIVID***
SAMPA THE GREATShadows (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2022) (Loma Vista) ***VIVID***
12:30am
SAMPA THE GREATBlack Girl Magik (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2022) (Big Dada Recordings / Ninja Tune) ***VIVID***
SAMPA THE GREATFinal Form (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2022) (Ninja Tune) ***VIVID***
VANCE JOYMissing Piece (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2016) (Liberation)
VANCE JOYClarity (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2016) (Liberation)
VANCE JOYRiptide (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2016) (Liberation)
GURRUMUL _and_ SYDNEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRABapa (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2014) (Skinnyfish Music)
GURRUMUL _and_ SYDNEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAWiyathul (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2014) (Skinnyfish Music)
1:00am
THE NATIONALBloodbuzz Ohio (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2018) (4AD)
THE NATIONALFake Empire (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2018) (Beggars Banquet)
THE NATIONALI Need My Girl (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2018) (Beggars Banquet)
JOSE GONZALEZCrosses (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2023) (Shock) ***VIVID***
JOSE GONZALEZLeaf Off / The Cave (Live at Sydney Opera House, 2023) (Shock) ***VIVID***
SPINIFEX GUM ft MARLIYA CHOIRWandangarli (Live At Sydney Opera House, 2019) (My Shore Productions)
SPINIFEX GUM ft MARLIYA CHOIRMarliya (Live At Sydney Opera House, 2019) (My Shore Productions)
1:30am
NAI PALMWhen The Knife (Live, At The Sydney Opera House) (Sony)*** POTENTIALLY VIVID***
CAMP COPEThe Opener (Live At Sydney Opera House) (Poison City) *** POTENTIALLY VIVID***
PHIL JAMIESONEvie: Parts I, II, and III (Live at Countdown Live NYE Concert, 2017) (ABC) ***NYE***
THE NATIONALLight Years (4AD)
THE NATIONALGraceless (4AD)
THE NATIONALThe System Only Dreams Of Darkness (4AD)
2:00am
JOSE GONZALEZHeartbeats (Shock) *** POTENTIALLY VIVID***
JOSE GONZALEZDown The Line (Shock) *** POTENTIALLY VIVID***
JOSE GONZALEZStay Alive (Universal) *** POTENTIALLY VIVID***
KHRUANGBIN and LEON BRIDGESTexas Sun (Independent)
KHRUANGBINSo We Won’t Forget (Dead Oceans)
KHRUANGBINDearest Alfred (Dead Oceans)
KHRUANGBINEvan Finds The Third Room (Late Night Tales)
2:30am
KHRUANGBINMaria Tambien (Late Night Tales)
KHRUANGBINTwo Fish And An Elephant (Late Night Tales)
KHRUANGBINComo Te Quiero (Dead Oceans)
VANCE JOYLay It On Me (Liberation)
VANCE JOYGeorgia (Liberation)
VANCE JOYMess Is Mine (Liberation)
VANCE JOYFire And The Flood (Liberation)
VANCE JOYWe’re Going Home (Liberation)
3:00am
VANCE JOYSaturday Sun (Mushroom)
YAEJIDone (Let’s Get It) (XL) ***POTENTIALLY VIVID***
YAEJI and OHHYUKYear To Year (XL)
YAEJIWaking Up Down (XL)***POTENTIALLY VIVID***
SPINIFEX GUM ft. BRIGGS and MARLIYALocked Up (Kobalt)
SAMPA THE GREAT ft. CHEF47, TIO NASON, and MWANJENever Forget (Loma Vista)
SAMPA THE GREAT ft. DENZEL CURRYLane (Loma Vista)
B WISE ft. SAMPA THE GREAT and MILAN RINGEzinna (Semi Pro Sound)
3:30am
SAMPA THE GREAT ft. KROWNTime’s Up (Ninja Tune)
SAMPA THE GREATOMG (Independent) ***POTENTIALLY VIVID***
SAMPA THE GREAT ft. NADEEM DIN-GABISIEnergy (Independent)
13/10/2023 4PM – NSW Premier Says “We Need To Learn From The Lessons From Monday Night” Opera House Crime
The NSW Premier has held a press conference, where he made some remarks about the Opera House crime at the pro-Arab protest on Monday & this is where we will end our live blog:
We need to learn from the lessons from Monday night (Opera House crime).
Given the experience that we all saw on Monday evening, clearly the New South Wales Police have to take steps to prevent violence, to prevent civic disorder, to prevent incitement of violence & racial vilification. Now, I think it is fair to know that whether that protest was hijacked or there was maleveront intent from the very beginning, it doesn’t matter. The organisers of that protest have proven to the NSW Police, the Government, the people of NSW that they can’t manage a peaceful protest.
We made it very clear during the week that there is no constitutional, legal or any other reason to stop a gathering in a NSW, uh, area or park or facility. Uh, there’s no provision in law to do that. There is provision in law to stop a march or assembly through NSW streets & I made that clear to the Jewish community & I made that clear to the people of NSW & the Police have made that clear in the last 24 hours. This is completely consistent with every public utterance that we have made in the last week & it goes consistent with the decision of the NSW Government to light up the Opera House with the Israeli flag in solidarity with the people of Israel and the Jewish community in NSW & the insistence by NSW Police that this protest would not be allowed to turn into a march through Sydney’s streets as a result of the scenes that we saw in Sydney on Monday night. Everything we have said has been completely consistent with that including the announcement by Police that further action may be warranted on Sunday to keep the public safe & to enforce the laws in NSW.
I mean, I want to make it clear that in other jurisdictions around Australia there has been peaceful protests but that’s not what we saw in Sydney on Monday night & given the experience that we all saw on public display of vilification, of incitement to violence and actual violence, this (court action) is the appropriate step for NSW Police & the NSW Government to take to ensure public order & keep the public safe as well as enforcing laws in this state in relation to vilification.
Well, look, I mean circumstances and context is extremely important & I think and I made this clear at the time that organising a protest within 24 hours of what was barbarism, as seen in Israel, was a poor choice & um, I given the circumstances and context, that’s an important part of the public debate.
It (Opera House crime) was not in line or in spirit with our multicultural community & I have a responsibility to ensure that the central tenets of our multicultural community are upheld & one of those central tenets is that there is no tolerance for incitement to violence & you are not allowed, not allowed in public at all to, uh, attempt racial vilification on our streets.
Chris Minns, NSW Premier
13/10/2023 11:30AM – Potential Police Court Action From Opera House Crime “Warning” To Offensive Sunday Pro-Arab Rally Attendees, NSW Police Say
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, New South Wales (NSW) Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon has said Operation Mealing is a “warning” for those planning to be offensive at a pro-Arab protest in Hyde Park, Sydney on Sunday because they will put people identified as being responsible for criminal offenses at the Opera House on Monday night before the court. He also said, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, that Operation Mealing was under way to ensure NSW Police had a complete picture of community sentiment in NSW given the Israel-Hamas conflict.
We’re currently collating, working through that (Opera House CCTV) footage. Where we identify people that have been responsible for criminal offences, we will put those people before the court.
It is a warning for anyone who intends to attend the (pro-Arab Hyde Park) protest on Sunday & commit an offence that we will take action.
On Mornings With Rafael Epstein on Australian Broadcasting Corporation Radio Melbourne, James Paterson, Senator For Victoria, said, Federal Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton’s comments that law-breaking anti-Jewish/Israel/Albanese/Police protesters’ – who were at the Sydney Opera House Southern Forecourt on Monday night – visas should be cancelled were “absolutely not” “race-based”:
I mean, people of all ethnicities & nationalities have had their visas cancelled by Peter Dutton because they failed the character test & the character test is an really important thing.
James Paterson, Senator For Victoria
12/10/2023 6:15PM – NSW Police Minister Allegedly Thought It Would Be “Easier” Not To Light Opera House To Protect Jewish People
On Tuesday, on Drive with Chris O’Keefe on 2GB radio, the New South Wales (NSW) Police Minister said:
Uh, I, I suggested – The Jewish Board Of Deputies, um, asked what they should advise their community to do & I advised them to speak to, uhhh, the uh – well I, I spoke actually to the, um, acting Commissioner & asked him to organise for the Commander, who, as we know, is Assistant Commissioner, uh, Cooke, which, I understand, that they did do that.
Well, I’ll certainly be speaking to them about, um, their vigil that they’re having, uh, later in the week just, you know, to ensure that we have, uh, security there for that as well – have the Police there – but look, you know, the Jewish Board Of Deputies & the Jewish community have a very strong relationship with the NSW Police & in fact, we had many conversations about that over the weekend & yesterday of the good work that, um, that the Jewish community, uh, told me of the gratitude of the Police so I know that they will work closely together, as they have done for a very long time, uh, & we would obviously encourage that.
Yasmin Cately, NSW Police Minister
According to Sharri Markson, of Sky News Australia, NSW Jewish Board Of Deputies President, David Ossip, in private communications with Yasmin Catley, NSW Police Minister, on Monday between 4pm & 6pm, “argued” about the advice for Jewish community not to attend the Opera House that night, which he “begged” to be reversed & “implored” her to stop the protests at the Opera House. However, he did warn her the protests would turn “vile & racist”. The Minister allegedly said there was nothing she could do & expressed:
Maybe it’ll just be easier if we just don’t light the opera house to protect you people.
Yasmin Catley, NSW Police Minister (allegedly)
According to Sharri Markson, NSW Jewish Board Of Deputies President, David Ossip said he felt strongly it was not appropriate to comment but he, once again, used the opportunity to thank the NSW Premier for his steadfast and principled leadership and support of the Jewish community & noted the decision to light up the Opera House was a prime example of this.
According to Sharri Markson, she contacted the NSW Police Minister for comment, who denied the claims, but had yet to receive a formal statement.
12/10/2023 5:15PM – Palestine Action Group Calls Dutton’s Visa-Cancelling Comments “A Shocking Attack On Democratic Rights”
According to the Australian Associated Press, Palestine Action Group Sydney has called the Federal Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton’s comments to cancel visas & deport law-breaking anti-Jewish/Israel/Albanese/Police visa-holding protesters at the Sydney Opera House Southern Forecourt on Monday night as “a shocking attack on democratic rights” & that Australian Palestine Advocacy Network President, Nasser Mashni. said what happened on Monday was unacceptable but he defended the group’s right to protest.
People have a right to protest against the war crimes & apartheid policies of the Israeli state.
Palestine Action Group
The reality of people coming together to express concerns about situations is that, at times, unwanted people come along & provoke unnecessary and unwanted actions.
Violence is never going to be an answer, as antisemitism is never the answer.
12/10/2023 11am – Federal Opposition Leader Says Law-Breaking Anti-Jewish/Israel/Albanese/Police Opera House Southern Forecourt Protesters Visas Should Be Cancelled
Uh, if there were (law-breaking anti-Jewish/Albanese/Israel/Police) people there (Opera House Southern Forecourt) who were on visas, uh, they should be identified & they should be, have their visas cancelled. They should be deported. People with that hate, uh, in, in their minds & their hearts don’t, don’t have any place in our society. Uh, if, if they were non-citizens & the police should be doing this work now, uh, if they were non-citizens, uh, they should be, their, their visas should be before the Minister, uh, & on character grounds, uh, they, they should have their visas cancelled so but I don’t even know if that work is being done, uh, by the Albanese Government. I mean, this is, uh, the frustration and, and the inherent bias within some of the Ministers, uh, within the Labor Party that, uh, uhhh, I, you, you, you couldn’t be assured that, uh, that, you know, that that process, is, is, is, uh, being considered.
Peter Dutton, Federal Opposition Leader
11/10/2023 8:30pm – NSW Premier Apologies For Anti-Jewish Comments Shouted By Some Protesters At Opera House
At a NSW Jewish Community Gathering in Support of Israel at Rodney Reserve, Dover Heights, the NSW Premier said:
Some of you are hated & targeted, sight unseen, character untested, simply and only because you are Jewish & it is with eternal sorrow that I acknowledge that some of that hatred was seen in your own city & I’m deeply, deeply sorry for it.
Chris Minns, NSW Premier
11/10/2023 12:15pm – NSW Police Working With Jewish Community To Explain Actions On Monday
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, David Hudson, Acting NSW Police Commissioner, says NSW Police were working with the Jewish community to explain the actions police took on Monday and how they came about, that officers had “no power” on Monday to stop law-abiding people from walking to the Opera House along footpaths & that he can understand public criticism over the decision to allow the pro-Arab protest at the Sydney Opera House to go ahead on Monday:
However, that was a quick moving escalation in activities that the commanders on the ground dealt with as they saw fit at the time.
I can understand how certain members of the community would be disappointed in that response.
David Hudson, Acting NSW Police Commissioner
11/10/2023 12pm – NSW Premier Wants To Apologise To Jewish Community
I really want to make it clear to the Jewish community that I want to apologise, specifically, on behalf of the NSW Government & myself, as the Premier of NSW.
The intentions of the Government were very straight forward to light up the Opera House, to create a place and a space for that community to come together to commemorate the horrific scenes that we’ve seen in Israel over the past 48 hours & we didn’t do that.
Not only did we not create a space for the Jewish community to come together to reflect on these terrible events in the Middle East but the Opera House Forecourt was obviously overrun with people that were spewing racial, uh, epithets & hatred on the streets of Sydney. Now that’s not good enough.
I want to make it clear I’m not blaming anyone for this. I’m the Premier Of NSW. I take full responsibility for it & we will make decisions to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Chris Minns, NSW Premier
11/10/2023 11:45am – NSW Government To Prevent Next Pro-Arab March In Sydney
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Chris Minns, the New South Wales Premier, has announced that, given what happened on the Sydney Opera House Southern Forecourt on Monday night, authorities will take action against a pro-Palestinian protest march planned for Sunday, although permission for a gathering planned could still be granted.
The protest organisers have proven that they’re not peaceful. Shouting racial epithets at Jewish community members is not the definition of a peaceful protest so the idea that they are going to commandeer Sydney streets is not going to happen & I’m sure the NSW Police will make that clear this morning.
It’s really important to note that putting in a form to use Sydney streets requires the permission of police because of jaywalking & civil obstruction of the natural order of the city.
It requires coordination & this group has shown that they’re not a peaceful organisation.
Chris Minns, NSW Premier
It should be strongly pointed out the protest organisation group were peaceful & did not shout “racial epithets”. However, not all protesters were peaceful & did shout “racial epithets”.
Some organisers say it’s been hijacked – whatever – the results was hatred on the streets of Sydney & the police won’t allow them to commandeer our streets.
Chris Minns, NSW Premier
11/10/2023 10:30am – Palestine Advocacy Network President Says Australians With Palestinian Background Found Opera House Blue & White Illumination “Hurtful”
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Nasser Mashni, Palestine Advocacy Network President, said the move to project the Israeli colours on the Sydney Opera House was hurtful for Australians with a Palestinian background.
I’m Australian too, why don’t my children matter? When the Opera House is lit up in the Israeli flag (colours), there was an opportunity for Australia to have a moment of bringing together all peoples to say all children matter. Both the flags could have been there.
Nasser Mashni, Palestine Advocacy Network President
11/10/2023 10:15am – Zionist Federation Of Australia President Said Some Chanted Slogans “Unacceptable”
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Jeremy Leibler, Zionist Federation Of Australia said some of the slogans being chanted at the Sydney demonstration were unacceptable & the response from Australian political leaders so far had been heartening.
I’m terrified when I see these marches through the city that are not holding candles & calling for peace as we see from rallies in the Jewish community when things have flared up in the Middle East. What we’re seeing is violent protests.
I think we’ve had strong, very principled support – bipartisan support – both from the Prime Minister, from (Federal Opposition Leader) Peter Dutton & both at the state leadership levels as well so there should be as there was after 9/11.
Jeremy Leibler, Zionist Federation Of Australia President
10/10/2023 5:15pm – Australian PM Stands By Comments That Pro-Arab Protest Should Not Have Gone Ahead
On Monday afternoon before 5pm, Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister Of Australia, said the pro-Arab protest to start at Sydney Town Hall should not go ahead.
I stand by those comments I made yesterday afternoon. I think the footage that I have seen – I’ve only seen a small amount of footage but some of the commentary that was being made there is hurtful. It is antisemitic some of the slogans that I heard shouting & there’s no place for antisemitism in this country or, indeed, anywhere else. We need to fight racism wherever we see it, whether it’s antisemitism, islamophobia, some of the racially charged comments that have been made against Indigenous Australians during this referendum. It has no place & I find the fact that people thought it was appropriate to chant one of the slogans that I’ve heard – I won’t even repeat on air – to be completely reprehensible.
Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia
10/10/2023 5pm – Decision To March To Opera House Made After Illumination Announcement
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Josh Lees from Palestine Action Group Sydney said he denounced the offensive chants heard at the Opera House:
Well, firstly, there were thousands and thousands of people came out, uh, from all different backgrounds to show our, uh, support for the basic freedoms of Palestinian people & to support, uh, their right to (sorry chuckle) defend themselves as well &, um, to oppose what is going on right now, which is a horrific wholesale bombing of the Gaza Strip, uh, and so it was very important for us to come out & protest.
Israel has been at war with the Palestinian people effectively for 75 years. Um, they’ve been at war with the people of Gaza for that entire time & there’s been an horrific siege on the Gaza Strip for the last 16 years, uh, which has been repeatedly bombed so we had a big protest, um, last night. Thousands of people came out including – It’s important to emphasise – including members of the Jewish community who are a part of our protest because there are many Jewish people, who, of course, support, um, the freedom of Palestinians & do not agree with the policies of the state of Israel so we held a very successful, um, peaceful protest that marched from Town Hall, um down to the Opera House.
Of course, we wanted to march to the Opera House because of the terrible & hypocritical stance taken by the Government to light it up with the Israeli flag (colours). Um, they haven’t in the last 75 years of oppression ever lit up the Opera House with the Palestinian flag, uh, so we marched down there. Um, it was a wonderful, peaceful protest. Um, as we say in our statement, right at the end, there was a separate event organised by others. There was a tiny group of people, um, who came & for a couple of minutes, did chant a despicable, um, antisemitic chant. We’ve made it very clear they don’t represent anything to do with our movement. Um, they’re not welcome. We- They were told to leave immediately. Um, ours has always been a anti-racist movement & we condemn all forms of racism including antisemitism.
I mean, I don’t know who they were. Um, what we can do is make it very clear as we have that this has nothing to do with the movement for a free Palestine, you know, & this, as I made it clear, we have a very long history, um, of standing together with all different communities against the state of Israel’s policies so that’s what we stand for.
As soon as we heard that the government planned to light up the Opera House with the Israeli flag, that is when a lot of people started suggesting we should march our protest down there so that’s what we did & we were in contact with the police all day. We spoke with them. They helped to manage that protest, to go down there peacefully. Um, there were no problems at all so we marched down here & that’s what we did.
Josh Lees. Palestine Action Group Sydney
It should be pointed out that the Sydney Opera House opened in 1973, 50 years ago.
10/10/2023 2:15pm – Palestine Action Group Sydney Says Anti-Semitic Chants “Very Distressing”
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Fahad Ali from Palestine Action Group Sydney said he approached people in the crowd who made antisemitic comments & told them to leave:
Our comrades, our friends, and our fellow people of all diverse backgrounds certainly can’t feel good about this, and we have an obligation to call out this behaviour when we see it.
Last night there was a contingent organised by a group called Jews Against Oppression & Palestinian Christians so when the minority of individuals decided to centre themselves at the expense of the broader protests that was very distressing.
We have consistently taken an anti-racist stand and Palestinian liberation is an anti-racist movement.
What is happening now is there has been a lot of media attention diverted from the suffering of people in Gaza.
Fahad Ali, Palestine Action Group Sydney
10/10/2023 2pm – NSW Attorney-General “Not Briefed” By Police Before 2GB Breakfast Interview
The events of last night at the Opera House were shocking and appalling.
On the comments I made this morning, I had not been briefed on the operations of police in relation to the Opera House protests, nor any discussions they may have had or advice they may have given.
Micheal Daley, NSW Attorney-General
During an interview on 2GB’s The Ben Fordham Show earlier, Micheal Daley, NSW Attorney-General said: “I worked late last night so I’m not really across that (Opera House pro-Arab protest), no”.
10/10/2023 1:45pm – Police Minister Confirms She Did Not Ask Police To Stop Pro- Arab March
In NSW Parliament’s Legislative Assembly’s Question Time, the Minister for Police, Counter-Terrorism & the Hunter, Yasmin Catley, was asked:
Did she ask the Police Force to stop the mob moving from Town Hall to the Opera House?
Matt Cross, Member For The District Of Davidson
She responded “…as Minister I have zero role in operational policing decisions and, quite frankly, nor should I”.
10/10/2023 1:30pm – Police Minister Avoids Answering Whether She Will Apologise To The Jewish Community
In NSW Parliament’s Legislative Assembly’s Question Time, the Minister for Police, Counter-Terrorism & the Hunter, Yasmin Catley, was asked:
Will the Miniser apologise to the Jewish community for failing to stop a march & not letting the community hold a vigil at the Opera House last night?
Kellie Sloan, Member For The District Of Vaucluse
She avoided directly answering the question.
10/10/2023 1:15pm – CCTV Pro-Arab Protest Footage Obtained By Police
This is not a question about letting a protest go ahead. This is purely about dealing with the situation that police were confronted with in the best way to avoid conflict & ensure public safety. It is not about condoning, supporting or facilitating.
Operation Mealing was established to investigate the incident last night. CCTV footage has been obtained & police will examine closely any evidence of offences that were committed and they will take appropriate action. I suggest that anybody with information should report it to their local police or to Crimestoppers.
The police were managing the situation to maximise the safety of all concerned. Their priority yesterday was to control & to manage a large, volatile crowd and to prevent conflict, violence and breaches of the peace. I say it again: They were successful in doing that.
Yasmin Catley, NSW Minister For Police, Counter-Terrorism & The Hunter
10/10/2023 1pm – NSW Police Minister “Kept Abreast” Of Opera House Pro-Arab Protest
In NSW Parliament’s Legislative Assembly’s Question Time:
I was kept abreast of the events as they unfolded last night.
The NSW Police Force has engaged with community groups as they monitor the situation here and overseas. I know that the Jewish community has an excellent relationship with the New South Wales police & that the police have been in constant contact with the community over the past few days.
The number 1 priority for our Police Force is to keep our community safe & I am pleased to say they did that last night. The police are not here to make political judgment calls about who should have the right to protest. They are here to keep our community safe at events like those last night & again I am pleased to say they did just that. Police have advised me that operational commanders last night judged that the best option for police was to control & manage the crowd movements through the CBD. Their main aim was to prevent the risk of conflict & violence.
The police did not approve a march. The process for approving protests, meetings or marches—known as form 1—generally takes about a week to complete. There was no form 1 for this event. There was just a spontaneous gathering of a large number of people. After the horrific events in Israel on the weekend, police were closely monitoring the situation & became aware through intelligence and through social media that large numbers could be expected to gather in the city. They needed to manage a highly volatile crowd & again I say last night they did that successfully.
Yasmin Catley, NSW Minister For Police, Counter-Terrorism & The Hunter
10/10/2023 12:45pm – Palestine Action Group Sydney Responds
On 9 October 2023, Palestine Action Group organised a successful rally in support of Palestine, calling for the end of the occupation & for Australia to cut ties to Israel. Thousands on thousands of diverse attendees marched to the Opera House & demonstrated our opposition to Australia’s support to the State of Israel, a genocidal apartheid regime which has waged war on Palestinians for over 75 years.
Today, we have woken up to the Premier of NSW, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Affairs Minister & Independent MP, Allegra Spender, condemning our protests & questioning why it went ahead. Let us affirm, we have the right to demonstrate. At a conjuncture where anti-protest laws widen to target anyone who opposes the colonial & capitalist structures of this state from First Nations movements to the Climate Justice movement, the states attack on Pro-Palestinian protestors is no different. Australia as a colonial and imperialist entity will always support Israel & the state is frightened by people in their masses showing that we oppose imperialism & colonialism. At a time where the people of Palestine resist over 75 years of war and massacres & Israel declares intent to commit genocide against the people of Gaza, we will demonstrate. We will continue to demonstrate & we will show this state that we oppose apartheid, we oppose settler-colonialism & we oppose genocide.
Despite a very successful & peaceful rally, the media has reported on a tiny fringe (we estimate less than 20 people) of vile antisemitic attendees who showed up to the Opera House for an event unrelated to the demonstration we organised. Media reports & videos circulating show young boys, mostly in their teens chanting “f*ck the Jews”. From our observations, this occurred for less than 1 minute & was not an ongoing chant. They were quickly condemned for their chants & asked to leave. Long-standing Palestinian organisers and activists & Palestinian, Arab and Muslim elders attending the protest were disgusted & deplored by the action. This is not what our movement stands for. We oppose Zionism, an ideology distinct from Judaism. We oppose Israel, a racist state which has waged genocide on Palestinians. We are an anti-racist and anti-colonial movement & we refuse to fight racism with racism.
PAG has a long-standing history of working with Jewish activists & organisers who oppose Zionism, from Tzedek to Jews against the occupation, we share anti-racist & anti-colonial values with our anti-Zionist Jewish siblings. We thank them for their ongoing solidarity, including the contingent who attended this very rally. We’ve checked in with as many of those Jewish people in the contingent as we know to ensure they are feeling safe & okay.
For over a decade, we have organised peaceful Palestinian rallies & we have mobilised the Australian community & we will continue to mobilise. If you are an antisemite, you are not welcome at our rallies & are not a part of our movement. As we did today, we will ask you to leave & we will continue to do this. We thank the 99.9% who have continued to show up for Palestine, who have continued to help keep our rallies peaceful & promote anti-racist and anti-colonial values.
We will be back on the streets at 1pm, Sunday 15 October 2023, at Town Hall to continue to protest both attacks on Palestinian resistance & Israel’s declaration of genocide on Palestinians. We will not bow to pressure from parliamentarians to end our mobilisations. We will demonstrate until Palestine is free, from the river to the sea!
Free Palestine & f*ck racism.
Palestine Action Group Sydney
10/10/2023 12:30pm – NSW Opposition Leader Says Hate Speech “Simply Unacceptable”
We have a responsibility to promote cohesion and we have a responsibility to respect different perspectives on international politics but none of us should pull punches when we call out hate speech. What we have seen in the past 48 hours, whether it is on the forecourt of the Opera House or the streets of our suburbs, is simply unacceptable. We have to call out that behaviour whenever we see it, whether it is antisemitism or any other sort of hate speech.
Mark Speakman, NSW Opposition Leader
10/10/2023 12:15pm – NSW Premier Confirms Illumination At Jewish Community Request
In the Legislative Assembly of the New South Wales Parliament:
Last night the Opera House was lit at the request of the Jewish community, specifically to show solidarity with the Jewish community here in New South Wales.
The scenes last night, where epithets were thrown at the Jewish community by protesters, were nothing short of horrific. That is the opposite of what we want in Australia and in New South Wales, a harmonious, dynamic and multicultural society.
I want the Jewish community in New South Wales to know that my Government & the vast majority of people in this State, stand with them today and are horrified by the scenes not just in the Middle East but also on the forecourt of the Opera House last night.
Chris Minns, New South Wales Premier
10/10/2023 12pm – Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council Executive Director Says Pro-Arab Protest “Deeply Disturbing”
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Doctor Colin Rubenstein, Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council Executive Director, said people had a right to protest within limits but the pro-Arab protest went beyond those limits:
We happen to be a democratic multicultural Australian society embedded with certain key values of mutual respect and tolerance.
It’s deeply disturbing and disappointing that any Australian would celebrate the slaughters and the butchery that we saw over the weekend but the fact that they were allowed to march to the Sydney Opera House and that no Jews were allowed, I’m sure on security grounds, which the community respected, but nonetheless it’s a deeply disturbing state of affairs and I think the authorities and certainly the responsible ministers involved have a lot to answer for.
Doctor Colin Rubenstein, Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council Executive Director
10/10/2023 11:15am – Co-CEO of Australian Jewry Executive Council Says Pro-Arab Protest-Endorsing Leaders Should Be “Held To Account”
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Alex Ryvchin, Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-Chief Executive Officer said the leaders who endorsed the gathering should be “held to account”, that the Palestinian movement “is about … violence and hatred. It doesn’t seek to build peace, it seeks only to destroy…” & he accepts police were doing what they thought was necessary to protect people:
The Palestinian movement has been revealed for all to see. This isn’t about a territorial dispute. There is no place for this incitement and blood lust in our society.
I bear no grievances towards them (the Police) but I think it’s a lamentable state of affairs when you have members of the Jewish community in the city unable to go to our CBD unable to gather and rally to observe an act of solidarity such as this.
Alex Ryvchin, Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-Chief Executive Officer
10/10/2013 11am – City Of Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, Says Peace Dove Projection “Would Have Been Much More Appropriate”
I do not think it should be one (Israeli colours illumination) or the other (Palestinian colours illumination)
I think that (peace dove projection) would have been much more appropriate.
City Of Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore
10/10/2023 10:45am – Federal NDIS & Government Services Minister Says Anti-Semitism Protest Chants “Un-Australian”
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Bill Shorten, Federal Government Services & National Disability Insurance Scheme Minister, said some of last night’s chants were “un-Australian”:
The truth of the matter is that some of the anti-Israel rhetoric has always been a mask for antisemitism.
It is un-Australian to attack someone because of what god they worship & this is what it is.
Bill Shorten, Federal Government Services & National Disability Insurance Scheme Minister
10/10/2023 10:30am – Federal Opposition Leader Describes Protests As “Despicable”
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the Federal Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton, said while people could express their view, even if others disagreed with it, the conduct last night was “despicable”, “unimaginable in modern Australia” with “no excuse”.
This was an act of terrorism and treachery & it should be properly condemned, uh, by every decent human being & I think some of the behaviour that we saw at the Opera House last night does not belong in our country & people can protest peacefully – That is a right – People can express their view even if we disagree with it, in our country, um, but some of the conduct last night , uh, was appalling & frankly there should have been a lot more done to deter that gathering from taking place in the first instance.
The Prime Minister should have been in contact with community leaders to stop this protest from taking place.
It’s a reminder of the fact that we need to continue our strong support for the people of Israel & the Jewish community here in Australia at what is a very dark hour.
If there was a terrorist attack in our country today, a couple of hundred people were taken hostage, hundreds of people were shot dead after a music festival, as Australians we wouldn’t want to see protesters gathering in New Zealand or another part of the world, cheering & chanting that that was a great thing.
Peter Dutton, Federal Opposition Leader
10/10/2023 10:15am – Metropolitan Assistant Police Commander Did Not Personally Speak With Palestinian Community
At a media conference, Tony Cooke, NSW Police Metropolitan Region Assistant Commander, confirmed he did not personally speak with the Palestinian community.
10/10/2023 10am – Police Approval For Pro-Arab Protest “Not A Question”
This is not a question about letting a protest go ahead. This is about us responding to what the concerns were & in the circumstances that presented us. In my view, very clearly, my best option was to control & manage the situation the best that we could do. In the end, uh, the risks of conflict were avoided & that did not occur. This is not about us condoning, supporting, facilitating any protest. This is about us (journalist ask question) – Can I just finish? Thank you – This is about us, uh, providing for the public’s safety.
We are continuing to work with all communities so people need to be reassured that police will provide a safe environment for everyone. This is New South Wales. We understand that this is a highly emotive issue, but we understand that people also should respect the fact that we are a very much a multicultural, multifaith community & that we need people to respect each other’s rights and observations & that we would continue to ask for people and the community at a large to do that.
I’m not – I did not have any conversations with the Minister in relation to the operational… (tactical decisions)
I spoke very clear, I spoke with members of the Jewish communities right throughout the day yesterday & as I said earlier, indicated to them that people attending these positions can put them at significant risk. They made a decision not to attend, which I’m supportive of in which that it shows good sense in the circumstances & we will certainty continue to support that community, if, in their own observances.
Tony Cooke, NSW Police Assistant Commander, Metropolitan Region
Very clearly, you can see from the footage that people were very agitated. I’m very disa-ppointed, uh, in, in, in, strongest possible terms that people saw fit to utilize flares & what not. However, I can tell you that that entire rally & protest was covered by CCTV footage. Operation ‘Mealing’ has been established to investigate the issues that occurred down there last night &, uh, we will certainly be attempting to identify people who committed offences & we will take the appropriate action to put them before the Courts where it is possible. If anybody has any information, we would be more than happy to receive that & people can do that directly to their local police or by contacting Crimestoppers.
Tony Cooke, NSW Police Assistant Commander, Metropolitan Region
10/10/2023 9:30am – NSW Police Became Aware Of Pro-Arab Protest March To Opera House On Monday Afternoon
During the day on Sunday, uh, past, Police became aware of the intent of a group of people to rally at the Sydney Town Hall, uh, that was by social media. Uh, a range of inquiries were conducted to attempt to identify & speak with those people prior to the rally taking place. We were able to, uh, find a person, uh, into the afternoon, yesterday afternoon. At that point, it became, uh, clear to us or, made-da-made, uh, clear to us that people intended to, uh, move from the Sydney Town Hall to the Opera House.
Uh, considering we’re very, very clear that this is a very strongly emotive issue. Um, in the circumstances, um, it was considered the, uh, best, ah, option for Police was to manage the movement of those people from, um. Sydney Town Hall to the Opera House to ensure that we were able to control the movement of the people & get them to a place where we could manage the rally in its form and to prevent, uh, the risk of conflict to prevent the risk offences, disturbances to the public aren’t throughout the city as it occurred. That did occur – the rally, as we well know, took place on, ah, the Forecourt, there, of the Opera House.
Police continue to negag-negotiate but not to negotiate, I’m sorry – to work with community right throughout the day. It was made very clear to people that, uh, people attending would and could expose themselves to risks & they made the decision not to attend and I’m very pleased they did so as that shows good common sense in the circumstances. I mean, we will continue to work with those communities to ensure they feel free & safe.
Uh, this is very clearly an emotive issue across community. We continue to work across all communities, absolutely. This is New South Wales. We do not expect people to bring conflict from other places to the streets of Sydney & the violence will not be tolerated and we were able to manage that to assure that there was no conflict last night. We are continuing to work across all community & all community can be assured that we will continue to do so so that they are free to go about their business without fear and that we will provide them support across all community.
My, my job is to deal with what I’ve got in front of me & we did just, and we did just that.
Tony Cooke, NSW Police Assistant Commander, Metropolitan Region
10/10/2023 9:15am – NSW Premier Says Government Discussions Taking Place With Jewish Community
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the NSW Premier defended the police’s event handling, saying it was an operational decision for the “safety & security” of Sydney:
I know that-that discussions are taking place this morning between the Government, police & the New South Wales Jewish community to ensure that those of Jewish heritage can enjoy their city, where they were born, where they’re raising their family, uh, where they’re a member of the community. We cannot have a situation where, um, members of the Jewish community feel like they can’t & are being told not to participate in their city. We lit up the Opera House specifically to show solidarity with the Jewish community & it’s a great shame that they weren’t able to, uh, commemorate solemnly with their community last night.
It’s to celebrate what’s happened in the Middle East in the last 48 hours is abhorrent. I can’t understand why the protest went ahead in any event & obviously, people feel, uh, ah, an enor-most Australians feel an enormous sense of solidarity with Israel today.
The position of the NSW Government is unambiguously clear: We lit up the Opera House in solidarity with the people of Israel & the Jewish community in NSW because we were as horrified as the rest of the community at the indiscriminate slaughter that took place in Israel.
We’ve got a large Jewish community in New South Wales. Many of them have long standing family and friend connections with Israel & I want them to know that the NSW Government and the vast majority of people in this state stand with them today and are horrified by the sc-scenes, not just in the Middle East but on the Forecourt of the Opera House last night.
To have the Opera House not lit up would have sent, in an ironic way, the reverse message, that we weren’t standing in solidarity with these horrific crimes when we were & I don’t want, and I don’t think it’s appropriate for the Jewish community in New South Wales to believe that there’s anything other than complete, uh, revulsion at, uh, those murders.
NSW Premier, Chris Minns
It should be noted the Jewish community makes up 0.5% of the New South Wales population.
10/10/2023 9am – Ambassador Of Israel To Australia Responds
To see these landmarks all over Australia illuminated in blue & white tells every Israeli that Australia cares. Thank you.
Amir Maimon, Ambassador Of Israel To Australia
10/10/2023 8am – Former Australian Ambassador Of Australia To Israel Calls Opera House Protest “Shocking”
It should be noted the NSW Police decision was made in conjunction with Community Safety Group, a Jewish community safety organisation.
I thought they were shocking and despicable & I thought the fact that members of the Jewish community were not able to come to the Opera House last night, uh, to see the Opera House sails lit up in the colours of the Israeli flag, they were specifically told by police to stay away, indicates a, a chronic f-failure or breakdown in New South Wales Police or within the NSW Police Minister’s office. This protest, this march should not have been allowed to go ahead last night & certainly not on the route that it had planned. Uh, they should have found another location or another evening for that to happen. It was just incredibly insensitive & I think some of the chants and slogans that the crowd were shouting last night were, uh, amount to racial incitement. I mean, they were despicable.
I mean, the material I saw promoting the rally made clear that it was not about commemorating the Israeli & civilian victims of Hamas terrorist attacks over the weekend. In fact, it was about siding with Hamas, celebrating what Hamas had done. I, I mean this would be like if we saw people come out on the streets in Sydney celebrating Al-Qaeda days after the September 11 attacks or people come out on the streets of Sydney and celebrate Jemaah Islamiyah days after the Bali bombing terrorists, which killed 88 Australians. I mean, this is just abhorrent & you know, I, I’m, I’m shocked but I’m also deeply disillusioned that people think this is something that should be coming out & be celebrated: the abduction of civilians, the defilement of bodies, the, uh, the wanton killing of people sheltering in their homes. This should never be celebrated.
Well, I mean, lo-look-look, I-I, think, yes, people have the right to political expression & the peaceful statement of their views & but I think last night, which was the night that the Opera House was being lit up with the colours of the Israeli flag, like is happening around the world, uh, the Jewish community should have been able to attend that event & show their solidarity with the victims of this terrorist attack without being told by police to stay away, without having to fear for their own personal safety & security. Uh, uh, I’m sure this other rally, which is seemingly celebrating those things, um, could have been scheduled at another date or in another venue.
Well I think, I mean, I-I find this astonishing that Chris Minns, the NSW Premier, uh, says we are lighting up the flags of the Opera House, lighting up the sails of the Opera House rather than in solidarity with the victims of this terrorist attack & then you have the NSW Police Minister or the NSW Police, um, green-lighting a protest which makes that event completely neutrally. I mean, someone has a crossed wire here.
Dave Sharma, former Australian Ambassador to Israel.
It should be noted the NSW Police decision was made in conjunction with Community Safety Group, a Jewish community safety organisation.
10/10/2023 7:45am – Federal Member For Wentworth Asks For “Abhorrent” Protest Explanation
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the Federal Member For Wentworth, Allegra Spender, has described the Sydney Opera House pro-Arab protest last night as “abhorrent” and asks for an explanation as to how the protest happened.
09/10/2023 11pm – NSW Premier Chris Minns Condemns Protest
According to The Daily Telegraph, New South Wales (NSW) Premier Chris Minns condemned the “horrible scenes” at the Sydney Opera House.
He said the protestors “do not represent the people of NSW” and, according to the Daily Mail, said “This sort of behaviour incites violence and creates division”.
It should be noted the NSW Police decision was made in conjunction with Community Safety Group, a Jewish community safety organisation.
Look, it can’t – we’re a free country and there’s always going to be idiots in a free country & this is absolutely outrageous behaviour, uh, but surely more could have been done here to separate groups. It’s sometimes are done at these kinds of events &, & look, the other thing I’d like to see here tomorrow is we have to see the leadership of, uh, Australia’s Muslim communities condemn this behaviour. As I say, there’s always going to be bad elements within any group but the problem I have here quite often is some of the leaders of our Muslim communities are, are of, sometimes seen to be silent or sometimes some Imam encourage this kind of conduct & it must be condemned. It has to be condemned across all groups in our society that people that are grieving the loss of their loved ones here should be able to do so in peace & quiet without these morons interrupting at these difficult times for the, for the Jewish communities of Australia.
Matta Canavan, Nationals Queensland Senator
09/10/2023 10pm – Pro-Arab Protesters Call On NSW Government To Light Up Sydney Opera House In Colours Of Palestinian Flag Tomorrow
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, at least 2 protesters including father & daughter, Maram Abu-Samen & Saud Abu-Samen, have called on the NSW Government to light up the Sydney Opera House in the colours of the Palestinian flag tomorrow.
The flag is red, green, white & black.
It should be equal. Palestinians and Israelis live in this country & we deserve the same opportunity.
Saud Abu-Samen
The below two people found the blue & white illumination divisive according to the Sydney Morning Herald:
It’s politics. It’s a major thing happening in the world but it’s sad that only 1 side of the story gets told.
Yunesh Padayatchi
Speaking about the pro-Israeli blue & white illumination:
I think it’s quite horrible. It’s narrow-minded & disappointed.
Siri Veseth
09/10/2023 9:15pm – The 4000 Pro-Arab Protesters Disperse From Sydney Opera House Southern Forecourt
Now that the Sydney Opera House illumination has ended, the pro-Arab protesters, which numbered 4000, have dispersed from the Southern Forecourt of the Sydney Opera House and are heading towards the public transport interchange at the northern end of Circular Quay. The human barricade of NSW Police officers followed with some pushing protestors in an effort to move them on according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Although coarse language was used & a flare was thrown at police, the protest was deemed “generally well behaved” by NSW Police, who said protesters complied with directions according to Firstpost.
09/10/2023 8:45pm – The Sydney Opera House Illumination Abruptly Ends
Less than 20 minutes after Israel announced a total blockade on the Gaza Strip, the Sydney Opera House has gone dark. Normally, illuminations run to 11pm or as late as 1am but this one barely made 90 minutes. The controversial Everest Barrier Draw projection show in 2018, for comparison, was always intended to be a 10-minute show with follow-up illuminations lasting until the end of an associated function on the other side of Circular Quay.
Israeli supporters largely stayed away from the Sydney Opera House during the illumination according to The Daily Mail.
09/10/2023 8:30pm – 100 Police Block Access To Sydney Opera House Podium After Illumination Disruption Attempt
New South Wales Police have formed a human barricade at the bottom of the Monumental Steps to block access to the Podium of the Sydney Opera House. This follows what seemed to be an attempt to block the illumination through extra white light by pro-Arab protesters. However, the protestors only managed to luminate more of the white illumination rather than less of the blue illumination.
According to The Daily Mail, Arabic-language cries of ‘God is the greatest’ rang out as some members of the crowd swarmed towards the police human barricade with some brandishing pieces of the torn Israeli flag while some were heard chanting, at points, “f*** Albanese”.
The Prime Minister Of Australia, Anthony Albanese, had no role in the decision to light up the Sydney Opera House blue & white.
Flares have been spotted being lit in the Southern Forecourt of the Sydney Opera House as New South Wales Water Police boats gather around the World Heritage site. Illegal fireworks were also lit according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation & according to the Sydney Morning Herald, 1 flare was thrown at NSW Police. No one was injured from the flare. An Iraqi flag featured in the crowd around a flare on the ground while an Israeli flag burnt & according to The Daily Mail, stamped on & torn to shreds. No one was arrested over the setting off of flares. According to The Daily Telegraph, some protestors shouted “f*ck Israel!”.
Flares lit at Sydney Opera House Southern Forecourt during Pro-Arab rally. Photograph: Earth TV
Muslim mob appears to be attacking Sydney Opera House with flares after pro-terrorist rally. pic.twitter.com/Bh7EXoO1Dv
— Australian Jewish Association (@AustralianJA) October 9, 2023
09/10/2023 7:30pm – The Pro-Israeli Sydney Opera House Blue & White Illumination Begins As Pro-Arab Protesters Arrive
The Sydney Opera House is now illuminated blue & white in support of Israel after the Arab-Israeli Conflict escalated 2 days ago when Palestinian militant groups from the Gaza Strip broke through the Gaza-Israel barrier in a major surprise attack on Israel.
The illumination is expected to last at least until 3.5-5.5 hours.
Some pro-Israeli supporters watched the illumination from the western side of Circular Quay,
09/10/2023 7:15pm – Pro-Arab Protest March Arrives At Sydney Opera House
Pro-Arab protesters arrived, some with Palestinian, Lebanese for Australian Aboriginal flags. Some wearing masks were also seen & some were shouting slogans such as “f*ck the Jews”, “free Palestine” & “shame Israel” according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as well as “gas the Jews”.
It should be noted Jewish does not completely equate to Israeli, though Jewish people make up 73% of the Israeli population.
09/10/2023 7pm – Prayer Session & Candle Messages At The Sydney Opera House Southern Forecourt
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, a prayer session was held at the Sydney Opera House Southern Forecourt at sunset & a group of women, in the growing darkness, lit a message with candles spelling ‘FREE PALESTINE’.
09/10/2023 6:45pm – Autonomous Collective Against Racism Describes Planned Opera House Illumination As “Slap To The Face”
Speaking to City Hub, a spokesperson for the Autonomous Collective Against Racism confirmed the collective’s presence “we will be there (at the march & upcoming protest at the Sydney Opera House), in massive numbers & with flags flying”.
Displaying the Israeli flag colours is not only a slap to the face of every Palestinian across the world, it’s evidence of the power of the Zionist lobby in this country and the chokehold it has on the Labor party.
Autonomous Collective Against Racism Spokesperson
09/10/2023 6:30pm – Pro-Arab March Begins At Sydney Town Hall/NSW Police & Community Safety Group Urge Jewish Community To Avoid Opera House Tonight
A 30-minute march, organised by Palestine Action Group Sydney, of at least 4000 pro-Arab supporters begun at Sydney Town Hall, via Pitt Street Mall & concludes at the Sydney Opera House in time for the pro-Israeli Sydney Opera House illumination at 7:30pm. A group called Jews Against Oppression & Palestinian Christians participated in the March.
New South Wales Police have confirmed they will have a “presence” & will “work with protesters to ensure there is no breaches of the peace & there is minimal impact to the community”. They encourage Jewish people to avoid the 7:30pm blue & white illumination of the Sydney Opera House because, according to the Australian Jewish Association President, David Adler, the NSW Police believe the Jewish community “…would be at risk if we were identified as Jewish in Sydney.”
The NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly; however, the first priority for NSW Police is always the safety of the wider community
NSW Police
NSW Police and CSG are urging the community not to attend the Sydney Opera House precinct
The events tonight may pose a risk to the safety of community members.
NSW Police & Community Safety Group E-mail
Palestine Action Group Sydney called for protesters to respect the police.
To rapturous cheers & applause at Sydney Town Hall, one of the rally’s speakers said it was a “disgrace that the Sydney Opera House is going to be lit up in the colours of the Israeli flag” according to The Daily Mail.
09/10/2023 5:45pm – Greens Newtown MP Describes Planned Opera House Illumination As “Appalling”
In response to the statement issued by the Arab Council Of Australia a few hours prior, Greens Member Of Legislative Assembly For The District Of Newtown, Jenny Leong, has described the planned Sydney Opera House blue & white illumination in support of Israel as “appalling”.
This rush to declare support for Israel is a blatant disregard of Palestinian and Arab lives, and of the Arab community here in NSW. It is also a total obfuscation of the reality on the ground and the relentless atrocities that Israel rains daily upon defenceless civilians.
This decision is offensive on many levels and has made a tragic situation that much worse. At the exact time that Israel’s colours will be emblazoned upon a Sydney icon, innocent Palestinian civilians will be under heavy and deadly bombardment by Israel. You have effectively trampled on our humanity and told the Arab Australian community in NSW that we do not matter.
Innocents on both sides are being killed in this conflict and the militarised, settler-colonial occupation that Israel maintains traps both people. If the government feels the need to light up the Opera House for the world to see, then the symbol of peace would be the only sensible call to ensure equality, unity and cohesion across this multicultural state rather than declaring support for one side or another.
We urge you to exercise positive leadership for all your constituents and reconsider your decision.
Randa Kattan, Arab Council Of Australia Chief Executive Officer
The New South Wales (NSW) Government has announced the Sydney Opera House will light up in blue & white in support of Israel at 7:30pm tomorrow night after the Arab-Israeli Conflict escalated when Palestinian militant groups from the Gaza Strip broke through the Gaza-Israel barrier in a major surprise attack on Israel yesterday.
About 500 people have been killed in the conflict since the surprise attack yesterday.
Prior to this evening’s announcement from the NSW Government, the German Government also lit up the Brandenburg Gate with the Israeli flag. This sparked the Australian Opposition Leader this afternoon to lobby the Australian Government via X to illuminate Australia’s Parliament House & the Sydney Opera House:
The Coalition would strongly support the Government in following Germany’s lead and illuminating Parliament House and the iconic Sydney Opera House in strong support of our friends and family in Israel. https://t.co/EgB515zUri
The Arab-Israeli conflict began in 1948 when the Executive Head of the World Zionist Organisation and Chairman of the Jewish Agency For Palestine, David-Ben Gurion, declared the establishment of the State Of Israel just 8 hours before the British League Of Nations Mandate For Palestine expired, which was when the Declaration would take effect. Hours later, this was followed by an attack on Israel by Iraq, Egypt, Transjordan & Syria, thus beginning the still-continuing Arab-Israeli conflict.
After the Coronation Of Charles III in early May, NSW Premier, Chris Minns, in response to outrage from the lack of an Sydney Opera House illumination for that historic event, revealed a new policy of no new Sydney Opera House illuminations as a response to the marketing/political posturing over-usage of the World Heritage site’s illuminations while also revealing a Government review on Sydney Opera House illuminations is currently (& still) underway.
On Monday, the Sydney Opera House will be lit in solidarity with the Jewish communities of New South Wales & those who may have family currently in Israel.
We are deeply concerned about the horrific attack by Hamas on Israel & those who have been kidnapped.
We will continue to work to ensure that we provide all support possible to those impacted across our state & are monitoring the situation closely to learn if any New South Wales citizens that are currently living in, on holidays or pilgrimage in the Middle East are impacted.
NSW Premier, Chris Minns
Opinion
It seems after a period of just under 4.5 months, political posturing has returned to the Sydney Opera House’s illuminations. This follows:
the Christchurch mosque shootings (2019)
the Sri Lanka Easter bombings (2019)
the Beirut explosion (2020),
Greece’s 200th Anniversary of Independence (2021),
Italy’s Republic Day (2021),
the ANZUS Treaty’s 70th Anniversary (2021),
the Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022),
the assassination of Shinzo Abe (2022)
India’s 75th Anniversary of Independance (2022)
Indian Prime Minister Visit (late May 2023)
This upcoming illumination will not be considered a ‘Sydney Spectacular’ due to it being related to a conflict.
After the Everest Barrier Draw fiasco, the Sydney Opera House wasn’t used for marketing anymore but instead, political posturing: the Christchurch mosque shootings, the Sri Lanka Easter bombings, the Beirut explosion, Greece’s 200th Anniversary of Independence, Italy’s Republic Day, the ANZUS Treaty’s 70th Anniversary, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the assassination of Shinzo Abe & India’s 75th Anniversary of Independance. Still, before the March state election, the NSW Coalition was promising to light it up for Israel’s 75th Anniversary Of Independence if it won it. The Federal Government also lit up the eastern Bennelong (smallest) sail & the Sydney Harbour Bridge for Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s visit in late May.
Last Wednesday, a Government Information (Public Access) request lodged by Liberal Chris Rath (Member Of Legislative Council) revealed a proposal to light up the Sydney Opera House just purple for the Coronation Of Charles III to cost around $30,000 and that the decision to cancel a more technically complicated planned projection of the King’s Cypher was “more political…from the Premier”, Chris Minns and not for “operational” or “conservation” reasons, according to public service e-mails.
Charles III Cypher Image: Buckingham Palace
It was also revealed that the cancellation involved the return of only 50% of the deposit. However, the cost of the deposit has not been revealed.
Back in May, the New South Wales (NSW) Premier referred to a cost of around $90,000 for the more complicated proposal which was declined for financial reasons and for the additional reason that there were alternative commemorations already planned.
He also justified the proposal’s rejection because the Sydney Opera House is lit up approximately twice a week – too often for a World Heritage site. Sydney Spectaculars agrees with this reason especially as we could not even keep up with the number of illuminations of the Sydney Opera House!
On radio 2GB’s The Ben Fordham Show, last Wednesday morning, Shadow Attorney-General, Alastair Henskens, gave the bizarre hypothetical consequence of the cancellation being a lost of trade & jobs from Great Britain. Never mind that he forgot about Northern Ireland, if losing trade and jobs is a major reason to light up the Sydney Opera House, then we would have to light it up for when China chooses it’s next President as China is our biggest trading partner.
In Question Time that same day, the NSW Premier, Chris Minns, was asked on this topic:
How can the public trust anything he says?
Opposition Leader, Mark Speakman
He avoided directly answering the question.
Later that day, the Premier said the simpler purple illumination proposal was not presented to him. It has been implied in the e-mails that his rejection of the more technically complicated Cypher projection was also an outright rejection of any proposal, so the simple purple illumination proposal was decided to not be presented to the Premier by public servants.
While much has been made about the mention of the word “political” in connection with a pro-republican anti-monarchical attitude by the Premier, Sydney Spectaculars cannot find any direct evidence for this. It is more likely a result of his policy of less Sydney Opera House projections, for the reasons outlined above.
In the end, the “political” decision was because of the politicisation of the Sydney Opera House projections since 2014. Sydney’s events are now metapolitical.
You can watch live coverage of the results of the NSW Election 2023 by Australia’s most famous psephologist, Antony Green, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation by clicking here or ‘Watch LIVE’ on the menu to the left.
This is a live blog of the NSW Election 2023 results. To see latest news, refresh the webpage. Here is a summary of the major news:
At 6pm AEDT, the polls closed.
At 6:20pm AEDT, the 1st counted votes came through.
At 7:06pm, the 1st results have come through from the NSW Premier’s district, Epping.
At 7:20pm, the 1st results for the Legislative Council have come through.
At 7:31pm, the NSW Premier is under 50% on 1st preferences in his district.
At 7:37pm, ‘we’ are calling the district of Kogarah for Chris Minns.
At 7:52pm, Australia’s most famous psephologist, Antony Green, has called a Labor-led Government with the Coalition unable to form Government.
At 7:59pm, the NSW Premier went back just over 50% of 1st preferences in his district.
At 8:16pm, the NSW Premier went back just under 50% of 1st preferences in his district.
At 8:24pm, the NSW Premier was at 48% on 1`st preferences in his district.
At 8:42pm,Australia’s most famous psephologist, Antony Green, says he is “confident” a Labor-led Government will be a majority government.
At 8:46pm, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation‘s Sarah Ferguson reports Labor Leader, Chris Minns, has left his home.
At 8:56pm, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation‘s David Speers has reported that Labor Leader, Chris Minns, has arrived to make his victory speech.
At 9:01pm, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation‘s Sarah Ferguson has reported that NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet has called Opposition Leader, Chris Minns, to concede the election to him.
At 9:44pm, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation‘s David Speers has reported that NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, is “a couple of minutes” away from arriving to make his concession speech.
At 9:48pm, Dominic Perrottet has arrived to make his concession speech.
At 9:51pm, the NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, has begun his concession speech saying Chris Minns will “be a fine 47th Premier” over the next 4 years.
At 10:03pm, the NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, announced he will stand down as Parliamentary Leader of the Liberal Party.
At 10:28pm, the Labor Leader, Chris Minns, begins his victory speech saying “we will not let them down”.
At 10:58pm, ‘we’ called the Legislative Council to form for the next 4 years in favour of the left/progessive side of politics.
On Tuesday, the Minns Labor NSW Government was sworn in by the Governor of NSW, Margaret Beazley, after 3 Independent Members of Parliament-elect gave Labor confidence and supply, 1 MP-elect more than required at this stage.
1 week after election night, Australia’s most famous psephologist, Antony Green, has called a Labor-led Minority Government.
2 weeks after election night, Australia’s most famous psephologist, Antony Green, has finished calling Legislative Assembly districts, giving Labor 45 districts, 2 short of a majority.
19 days after election night, the Liberal Party announce they will decide the next Opposition Leader on April 21.
25 days after election night, the NSW Electoral Commission announced the finalised results with Labor winning the most districts in the Legislative Assembly – a minority of 45 districts – while no major party won a majority or clear lead in the Legislative Council. A now-divided crossbench has the balance of power in the Legislative Council.
27 days after election night, the NSW Liberal Parliamentary Party elected Member of the Legislative Assembly for the District of Cronulla, Mark Speakman, as their leader and thus, Coalition leader and thus, Opposition Leader.
27 DAYS AFTER ELECTION NIGHT:
CRONULLA MLA, MARK SPEAKMAN, ELECTED AS OPPOSITION LEADER BY COALITION
The NSW Liberal Parliamentary Party elected Member of the Legislative Assembly for the District of Cronulla, Mark Speakman, as their leader and thus, Coalition leader and thus, Opposition Leader.
The date of Australia Day will be dependent on Mark Speakman, though it is highly likely he will support Labor’s policy of January 26 for the next 4 years as the Coalition is a pairing of conservative parties.
Sydney Spectaculars will contact the Opposition Leader for clarification of his policy.
25 DAYS AFTER ELECTION NIGHT:
NSW ELECTORAL COMMISSION CONFIRMS LABOR MINORITY IN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, DIVIDED CROSSBENCH HOLDING BALANCE OF POWER IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
The NSW Electoral Commission finalised the election results today. The Legislative Assembly is as follows:
Labor – 45 districts
Coalition – 36 districts
Greens – 3 districts
Independent – 9 districts
This confirms Labor will be a minority government. Therefore, they will definitely need the support of at least 2 members of the Legislative Assembly to implement their policy of free entry to Government-controlled Sydney NYE vantage points.
The new half of the Legislative Council is as follows:
Labor – 8 seats
Coalition – 7 seats
Greens – 2 seats
Shooters, Fishers & Farmers – 1 seat
One Nation – 1 seat
Liberal Democrats – 1 seat
Legalise Cannabis – 1 seat
This makes the whole Legislative Council as follows:
Labor – 15 seats
Coalition – 15 seats
Greens – 4 seats
One Nation – 3 seats
Shooters, Fishers & Farmers – 2 seats
Animal Justice – 1 seat
Liberal Democrats – 1 seat
Legalise Cannabis – 1 seat
This means the crossbench (all parties except Labor & Coalition) will have the balance of power and will not favour one side of politics as earlier called by us. It is divided exactly 50-50.
19 DAYS AFTER ELECTION NIGHT:
LIBERAL PARTY TO DECIDE NEW OPPOSITION LEADER ON APRIL 21
The Liberal Party have announced they will decide the next Opposition Leader at a party room meeting on April 21. As always when the Coalition is in Opposition and The Liberal Party is larger than The Nationals in the Legislative Assembly, the Opposition Leader will also be the Leader of the Liberal-National Coalition and the Liberal Party. The date of Australia Day will be dependent on the new Opposition Leader, though it is highly likely that whoever is chosen will support Labor’s policy of January 26 for the next 4 years as the Coalition is a pairing of conservative parties.
2 WEEKS AFTER ELECTION NIGHT:
ANTONY GREEN FINISHES CALLING LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS, GIVING LABOR 45 DISTRICTS, 2 SHORT OF A MAJORITY
Australia’s most famous psephologist, Antony Green, has finished calling the Legislative Assembly districts giving Labor 45 districts, 2 short of a majority. Therefore, they will now need the support of at least 2 members of the Legislative Assembly to implement their policy of free entry to Government-controlled Sydney NYE vantage points. The final make-up of the Legislative Assembly, as called by Antony Green, is:
Labor – 45 districts
Coalition – 36 districts
Greens – 3 districts
Independent – 8 districts
1 WEEK AFTER ELECTION NIGHT:
ANTONY GREEN CALLS THE ELECTION FOR A LABOR-LED MINORITY GOVERNMENT
Australia’s most famous psephologist, Antony Green, has called the Labor-led Government will be a minority government, being at least 1 seat short. This means the date of Australia Day will be dependent on the new Opposition Leader, though it is highly likely that whoever is chosen will support Labor’s policy of January 26 for the next 4 years as the Coalition is a pairing of conservative parties. While Labor is in Government, it cannot be as guaranteed the parliament will support their policy of free entry to Government-controlled Sydney NYE vantage points. They will need the support of at least 1 member of the Legislative Assembly.
TUESDAY AFTER ELECTION NIGHT:
MINNS LABOR NSW GOVERNMENT SWORN IN AFTER 3 ELECTED INDEPENDENTS GUARANTEE CONFIDENCE & SUPPLY
Last night, 3 elected Independent members of the Legislative Assembly gave Labor confidence and supply for a Government under them. This allowed Chris Minns as well as 4 other elected Labor Members Of Parliament to be sworn in by the Governor of NSW, Margaret Beazley, as the new Government in the position of Premier & Ministers respectively. The 3 Independents who gave confidence and supply are:
Alex Greenwich (District Of Sydney),
Greg Piper (District Of Lake Macquarie) and,
Joe McGirr (District Of Wagga Wagga).
Labor only currently needs 2 guarantees of confidence and supply to form a minority Government so they got, at least for now, an extra guarantee in case of a sudden change of mind. At the swearing-in ceremony, the following Labor members of Parliament(-elect) were made Ministers:
Prue Car (Deputy Premier & Education Minister) (District Of Londonderry),
Daniel Mookrey (Treasurer) (District Of NSW*),
Ryan Park (Health Minister) (District Of Keira),
Jo Haylen (Transport Minister) (District Of Summer Hill),
Penny Sharpe (Environment Minister) (District Of NSW*)
*Means in Legislative Council
11:08PM, ELECTION NIGHT:
LIVE BLOG NOW TO PROVIDE DAILY UPDATES AT 6PM AEDT FROM TUESDAY
We are now wrapping up our coverage of election night in New South Wales. We will now provide daily updates at 6pm from Monday as we wait for confirmation that Labor will get a majority government (Australia’s most famous psephologist, Antony Green, only said he was “confident” – not an outright call) but in the main news to arise out of election night results:
We have called the Legislative Council for the next 4 years to favour the left/progessive side of politics
NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, will stand down as Liberal Party Parliamentary Leader, leaving the Liberal policy of the Australia Day date as on January 26 open, though it very likely will be the same policy under the new Liberal Party Parliamentary Leader as they are a conservative party.
Chris Minns won his seat decisively, in the biggest swing to Labor in a district this election.
Labor will form the next NSW Government but whether it is a majority or minority government is still to be determined, coming down to 1 seat possibly.
Hope you enjoyed our live coverage of the NSW Election results in what will determine the fate of ticket prices of NSW Government-controlled Sydney NYE vantage points and the date of Australia Day for the next 4 years. Until 6pm AEDT Tuesday, thank you for following our coverage.
10:58PM:
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CALLED (BY US)
At 36% counted, the new half of the Legislative Council currently looks like this:
Labor – 9 seats
Coalition – 7 seats
The Greens – 3 seats
One Nation – 2 seats
We are calling the new half of the Legislative Council for the above parties. Combined with the existing half of the Council, this is what the whole Legislative Council may now look like:
Labor – 16 seats
Coalition – 15 seats
The Greens – 5 seats
One Nation – 4 seats
Shooters, Fishers & Farmers – 1 seat
Animal Justice – 1 seat
While, as expected, no party got a majority in the next 4-term of the Legislative Council, we expect it to be controlled by the left/progressive side of politics, consisting of Labor, The Green & Animal Justice, who make up 22 of the 42 seats or 52% of the next 4-year term of the Legislative Council.
10:28PM:
CHRIS MINNS: “WE WILL NOT LET THEM (NSW) DOWN”
To chants of “Minns!” & “Labor!” repeatedly, the Labor Leader, Chris Minns, has walked up to the podium, after struggling to get through the crowd supporting him, to make his victory speech after a passionate introduction by the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. He says to NSW that “we will not let them down” and also thanks the Labor volunteers from his district of Kogarah, who helped him to victory in his marginal district.
10:03PM:
NSW PREMIER WILL STAND DOWN AS LIBERAL PARTY PARLIAMENTARY LEADER
The NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, announced he will stand down as Parliamentary Leader of the Liberal Party. This leaves open the question of the Liberal Party’s policy of keeping Australia Day on January 26 as Dominic Perrottet personally committed to another 4 years of January 26 as Australia Day. While the new Parliamentary Liberal Party Leader will have to clarify their position on the Australia Day date, it is very likely to be the same as Dominic’s position as their party is a conservative party.
9:51PM:
NSW PREMIER – CHRIS MINNS “TO BE A FINE 47TH PREMIER”
On the verge of tears and looking gutted while his faithful chant “Dom!” repeatedy, the NSW Premier begins his concession speech confirming his call to Opposition Leader, Chris Minns, to concede the election while saying Chris Minns will “be a fine 47th Premier” over the next 4 years.
9:48PM:
NSW PREMIER ARRIVES TO MAKE CONCESSION SPEECH
NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, has arrived to make his concession speech.
9:44PM:
NSW PREMIER “A COUPLE OF MINUTES” AWAY FROM ARRIVING TO MAKE HIS CONCESSION SPEECH
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation‘s David Speers has reported that NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, is “a couple of minutes” away from arriving to make his concession speech.
9:01PM:
NSW PREMIER CALLS OPPOSITION LEADER TO CONCEDE THE ELECTION
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation‘s Sarah Ferguson has reported that NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet has called Opposition Leader, Chris Minns, to concede the election to him.
8:56PM:
CHRIS MINNS ARRIVES TO MAKE HIS VICTORY SPEECH
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation‘s David Speers has reported that Labor Leader, Chris Minns, has arrived to make his victory speech.
8:46PM:
CHRIS MINNS ON WAY TO VICTORY SPEECH
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation‘s Sarah Ferguson has reported that Labor Leader, Chris Minns, has left his house on the way to make his victory speech.
8:42PM:
ANTONY GREEN SAYS HE IS “CONFIDENT” A LABOR-LED GOVERNMENT WILL BE A MAJORITY GOVERNMENT
Australia’s most famous psephologist, Antony Green, says he is “confident” a Labor-led Government will be a majority government. However, he says it still depends on the final makeup of seats won as it could come down to 1 seat’s difference.
8:27PM:
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL UPDATE
At 1% counted, the new half of the Legislative Council currently looks like this:
Coalition – 8 seats
Labor – 8 seats
The Greens – 3 seats
One Nation – 1 seat
Shooters, Fishers & Farmers – 1 seat
This is still too early to call the Council, however that is the current state of play. Combined with the existing half of the Council, this is what the whole Legislative Council looks like:
Coalition – 16 seats
Labor – 15 seats
The Greens – 5 seats
One Nation – 3 seats
Shooters, Fishers & Farmers – 2 seats
Animal Justice – 1 seat
8:24PM:
NSW PREMIER LOSING GROUND IN HIS DISTRICT
At 29% counted, the NSW Premier is currently leading his district of Epping with 48% of the current votes counted, dropping 1% on the last update we provided. This is still too early to call this seat, though it is a safe seat for Dominic Perrottet. However, he is still on a very fine margin on 1st preferences, still meaning he will currently have to rely on preferences, which will be a bit difficult when the other parties in his seat are Labor, The Greens, Sustainable Australia, Animal Justice & an independent (who has 3% of the vote). Whether the NSW Premier wins his own seat is still up for debate.
8:19PM:
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL UPDATE
At 0.6% counted, the new half of the Legislative Council currently looks like this:
Coalition – 8 seats
Labor – 8 seats
The Greens – 3 seats
One Nation – 1 seat
Shooters, Fishers & Farmers – 1 seat
This is still too early to call the Council, however that is the current state of play. Combined with the existing half of the Council, this is what the whole Legislative Council looks like:
Coalition – 16 seats
Labor – 15 seats
The Greens – 5 seats
One Nation – 3 seats
Shooters, Fishers & Farmers – 2 seats
Animal Justice – 1 seat
8:16PM:
NSW PREMIER GOES BACK UNDER 50% OF 1ST PREFERENCES IN HIS DISTRICT
At 24% counted, the NSW Premier is currently leading his district of Epping with 49% of the current votes counted. This is still too early to call this seat, though it is a safe seat for Dominic Perrottet. However, he is still on a very fine margin on 1st preferences, still meaning he will currently have to rely on preferences, which will be a bit difficult when the other parties in his seat are Labor, The Greens, Sustainable Australia, Animal Justice & an independent (who has 3% of the vote). Whether the NSW Premier wins his own seat is still up for debate.
8:10PM:
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL UPDATE
At 0.4% counted, the new half of the Legislative Council currently looks like this:
Coalition – 8 seats
Labor – 7 seats
The Greens – 3 seats
One Nation – 2 seats
Shooters, Fishers & Farmers – 1 seat
This is still too early to call the Council, however that is the current state of play. Combined with the existing half of the Council, this is what the whole Legislative Council looks like:
Coalition – 16 seats
Labor – 14 seats
The Greens – 5 seats
One Nation – 4 seats
Shooters, Fishers & Farmers – 2 seats
Animal Justice – 1 seat
7:59PM:
NSW PREMIER BACK OVER 50% OF 1ST PREFERENCES IN HIS DISTRICT
At 14% counted, the NSW Premier is currently leading his district of Epping with 51% of the current votes counted. This is still too early to call this seat, though it is a safe seat for Dominic Perrottet. However, he is still on a very fine margin on 1st preferences, still meaning he will currently have to rely on preferences, which will be a bit difficult when the other parties in his seat are Labor, The Greens, Sustainable Australia, Animal Justice & an independent (who has 3% of the vote). Things have improved for him nevertheless.
7:52PM:
ANTONY GREEN CALLS THE ELECTION FOR A LABOR-LED GOVERNMENT
Australia’s most famous psephologist, Antony Green, has called a Labor-led Government and that the Coalition is unable to form Government. However, he has not called whether Labor will form a majority or minority government.
7:45PM:
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL UPDATE
At 0.1% counted, the new half of the Legislative Council currently looks like this:
Coalition – 8 seats
Labor – 8 seats
The Greens – 3 seats
One Nation – 1 seat
Shooters, Fishers & Farmers – 1 seat
This is still too early to call the Council, however that is the current state of play. Combined with the existing half of the Council, this is what the whole Legislative Council looks like:
Coalition – 16 seats
Labor – 15 seats
The Greens – 5 seats
One Nation – 3 seats
Shooters, Fishers & Farmers – 2 seats
Animal Justice – 1 seat
7:37PM:
WE’RE CALLING THE DISTRICT OF KOGARAH FOR CHRIS MINNS
At 9% counted, the Opposition Leader and Labor Leader, Chris Minns, is leading on 57% of the vote. We believe he will hold onto the district, which was a marginal one. Last election, he won with 42% of 1st preferences so we are calling the district of Kogarah for Labor & Chris Minns so he he will be leading his party in some form in the next Parliament.
Important to note, Antony Green, Australia’s most famous psephologist has not called the district.
7:31PM:
NSW PREMIER UNDER 50% ON 1ST PREFERENCE IN HIS DISTRICT
At 5% counted, the NSW Premier is currently leading his district of Epping with 48% of the current votes counted. This is still too early to call this seat, though it is a safe seat for Dominic Perrottet. However, being now under 50% on 1st preferences means he will currently have to rely on preferences, which will be a bit difficult when the other parties in his seat are Labor, The Greens, Sustainable Australia, Animal Justice & an independent (who has 3% of the vote).
7:20PM:
FIRST RESULTS FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAVE COME THROUGH.
At 0.02% counted, the new half of the Legislative Council currently looks like this:
Coalition – 9 seats
Labor – 8 seats
The Greens – 3 seats
One Nation – 1 seat
This is still too early to call the Council, however that is the current state of play. Combined with the existing half of the Council, this is what the whole Legislative Council looks like:
Coalition – 17 seats
Labor – 15 seats
The Greens – 5 seats
One Nation – 3 seats
Shooters, Fishers & Farmers – 1 seat
Animal Justice – 1 seat
7:06PM:
FIRST RESULTS FROM NSW PREMIER’S DISTRICT HAVE COME THROUGH.
At 1% counted, the NSW Premier is currently leading his district of Epping with 57% of the current votes counted. This is still too early to call this seat, though it is a safe seat for Dominic Perrottet.
6:20PM:
1ST COUNTED VOTES HAVE COME THROUGH
They are from the district of Clarence but as they are early figures, there are not enough to make a final judgement on that seat yet.
6PM:
POLLS HAVE CLOSED
The polls have closed everywhere in New South Wales. First results expected at 6:30pm AEDT.
After an absence of 4 weeks, Sydney Spectaculars have decided to return to post major event news, just in time for the Midnight Fireworks of Sydney New Year’s Eve 2022!
COVID-19 case numbers have lowered sufficiently over the past week that we believe the public health of New South Wales is protected so if you’re in Sydney, head on down to the Harbour tomorrow and help Sydney New Year’s Eve reach back to an attendance of 1 million people in what is to be the biggest Sydney New Year’s Eve bash in 3 years!
This comes as New South Wales recorded 27,665 new cases in the past week (as of 30th December). The decrease in cases (currently 10,945 cases less per week) is accelerating.
The City of Sydney is working with New South Wales Health & Ambulance to ensure a COVID-19-safe event. Like last year, most of the Sydney Harbour foreshore is ticketed as a COVID-19 precaution.
Before heading to a vantage point to watch Calling Country and/or the Midnight Fireworks, Sydney NYE spectators are encouraged to support local businesses on the night as businesses are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Full news coverage of Sydney NYE2022 on Sydney Spectaculars will not occur until the Midnight Fireworks begin. However, we will still be updating the Sydney NYE2022 webpage throughout the 31st of December and live coverage will be provided from our ‘Watch LIVE’ webpage from 6pm AEDT with the beginning of the radio broadcast with the visual broadcast beginning at 8:30pm AEDT!
If you cannot access this website, the official fireworks soundtrack radio broadcaster is KIIS 106.5 FM (from 6pm-12:30am AEDT) and the official television/concert radio broadcaster is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) (from 8:30pm AEDT on television, 9:15pm AEDT on radio. Tune into 702AM if you’re down on the Harbour for the concert radio broadcast, which is synchronised to the Sydney Harbour Bridge light show. Both the concert radio & television broadcast conclude at 12:20am). For the vision impaired, ABC will audio describe Calling Country and The Midnight Fireworks on the ABC Listen app. The audio description may also be available on 2RPH.
Lastly, we have some exciting plans for the future to announce shortly including the unveiling of new flagship ‘Sydney Spectaculars‘!
Sydney Spectaculars prides itself on providing information on Sydney’s major pyrotechnic, light, projection and air events that allow visitors from all around the world to see Sydney in it’s most spectacular form in a safe way.
Since, at the heart of what we do is promote major events, we believe it is in the best interest of the public health of New South Wales if we stop providing news on Sydney’s events until the COVID-19 pandemic has eased enough to guarantee New South Wales’s public health.
This comes as NSW recorded 37,796 new cases in the past week (as of 2nd December) in what is New South Wales’ 4th wave. New South Wales Health officials have stated they expect this wave to be short and peak a lot earlier than previous waves. The increase in cases (currently 6,265 cases extra per week) is slowing down.
Regarding Sydney New Year’s Eve 2022, the event has not been affected as of writing. The City of Sydney is working with New South Wales Health & Ambulance to ensure a COVID-19-safe event. Like last year, most of the Sydney Harbour foreshore is ticketed as a COVID-19 precaution. As businesses are still recovering from the pandemic, Sydney New Year’s Eve spectators are encouraged to support local businesses on the night before heading to a vantage point to watch Calling Country and/or the Midnight Fireworks.
If you cannot attend the event. the official fireworks soundtrack radio broadcaster is KIIS 106.5 FM (from 6pm AEDT) and the official television/concert radio broadcaster is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) (from 8:30pm AEDT on television, 9:15pm AEDT on radio). For the vision impaired, ABC will audio describe Calling Country and The Midnight Fireworks on the ABC Listen app.
For the rest of the news from the Sydney New Year’s Eve 2022 media launch, please click here. For information on any COVID-19 cases arising from attendances at any Sydney Spectaculars and future Sydney Spectacular news, please refer to the mainstream media.
Sydney Spectaculars, in the meantime, will focus on researching the history of these events and we will still update the site, when the events are held, to provide the ever popular event videos and information & for Sydney New Year’s Eve, the fireworks soundtrack listings. The Sydney New Year’s Eve 2022 page will be created throughout December.
We will just not provide news updates.
We have some exciting plans for the future including the unveiling of another new ‘Sydney Spectacular‘ but these will not be revealed until the COVID-19 pandemic has eased enough so the public health of New South Wales is guaranteed.
To stress, we are not waiting until the end of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide event news updates. We are waiting until we believe the public health of New South Wales is protected enough from COVID-19. Then we will provide event news updates again.
Sydney Spectaculars 
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