By Max Maddison
NSW Labor HQ is bracing for major pro-Palestine demonstrations disrupting the party’s state conference in late July, with fears political extremists could threaten the safety of delegates.
Senior Labor HQ sources privy to internal discussions about the event’s security said there were concerns “rogue actors” on the far right and left would use the rally as a means of trying to hurt ministers, MPs and other attendees.
A pro-Palestine protest in Sydney in February. Labor organisers are expecting several thousand to demonstrate at the party’s state conference.Credit: Steven Saphore
Premier Chris Minns has warned against any move to “smash up” the state conference, which is expected to serve as a lightning rod for thousands of protesters when 800 delegates plus observers gather at Sydney Town Hall on the last weekend of July.
Minns also put his own MPs on notice about party solidarity in the aftermath of Senator Fatima Payman’s defection from federal Labor, saying any state MP who crossed the floor over the war in Gaza should expect to meet a similar fate as the 29-year-old West Australian senator. Minns accused one MP who appeared to offer support for Payman, frequent Israel critic MLC Anthony D’Adam, of suffering relevance deprivation syndrome.
Senior members of the Labor Party who spoke to the Herald on the condition of anonymity said they were expecting “significant disruption” and were working with NSW Police to beef up security and prevent a repeat of the clashes that marred the Victorian state conference in mid-May.
One source briefed on sensitive internal discussions said there was considerable concern about political extremists using the demonstrations as cover to cause harm to delegates, noting the Newcastle man recently charged over his vows to behead Labor MP Tim Crakanthorp.
Pro-Palestine protesters unfurl banners at the front of Parliament House on Thursday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
In response to questions, a party spokesman said: “The security and safety of attendees at our conference is a matter we have always taken seriously. We are working closely with the authorities and our security providers to ensure the NSW Labor conference runs smoothly.”
One rally organiser suggested the protest could reach up to 10,000 people, while others suggested about 6000 or 7000. NSW Police confirmed they had received an application to conduct a public assembly on the Saturday of the conference, but declined to speculate on the potential size of the protest.
Multiple senior Labor sources were bracing for a major turnout, noting promotional material for the protest was already circulating in the inner and south-west of Sydney, and being disseminated on social media.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is scheduled to address delegates on July 27, and Minns the following day.
Labor MLC Anthony D’Adam (left) has called for a discussion about caucus solidarity, while NSW Premier Chris Minns has accused him of “relevance deprivation”.
Minns on Friday said any effort to disrupt the state conference would be a “real shame” and would indicate the real aim was the disruption of “a lawful, public meeting that is democratic that’s existed for 130 years”.
Late on Thursday, D’Adam reposted Payman’s resignation statement on multiple social media platforms with the caption “Free Palestine”. Just over 12 hours later, and seven weeks after he sacked him from his parliamentary secretary roles, Minns once again criticised his Labor MP.
“How ridiculous. Maybe suffering a little relevance deprivation because [Payman] stole a march on him in his own mind,” he said.
Minns said any MP who crossed the floor would be suspended from the caucus and possibly expelled, saying allowing MPs “run in a million different directions” on substantive policy issues would only lend to “chaos in the state”.
“I just want to make it clear, if anyone crosses the floor on a motion or a bill in the NSW parliament, we will have to take exactly the same action … This is part of the trade-off that you make when you join a major political party: you do give up some individuality in preference of a collective position.”
In a statement on Friday afternoon, D’Adam denied endorsing Payman’s decision to cross the floor, or planning something similar when state parliament sat next in August, but called for a “broader discussion” within the party about caucus solidarity.
“I would clearly prefer that Senator Payman had remained within the Labor team. I do not endorse or support her decision to leave the ALP, although I understand why she felt she had no other option,” he wrote.
“Shutting down debate and differing opinions is not the Labor way. Labor needs to learn from this experience. Hopefully this will be the trigger for a broader discussion in the party about how our parliamentary parties operate.”
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.