Protesters abandon court bid over October 7 rally as AFP investigates nine complaints of terror symbols

Pro-Palestinian protesters have dropped their legal bid to hold an authorised vigil on October 7.

NSW Police had applied to the Supreme Court in a bid to block two planned protests, scheduled in Sydney on Sunday and Monday, citing safety fears.

But at the court hearing on Thursday, the organiser’s legal representative said approval for Monday’s rally would no longer be sought.

The organisers will now await a verdict on whether Sunday’s planned protest is allowed to proceed, after amending their plans to begin the protest at Hyde Park, rather than Town Hall.

NSW police have argued in court that Sunday’s rally could be “provocative” and a “tinderbox” in Sydney’s CBD.

Organiser Josh Lees had earlier said a court order would not deter demonstrators this weekend, saying after 51 weeks of protests “We’re certainly stopping now”.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said police would have “more powers to prevent a march or unauthorised rally through Sydney’s streets” this weekend.

Mr Minns, who will attend a vigil organised by the Jewish community on Monday, said he believed an anti-Israel vigil on the same day was “not the right thing to do”, given it was the anniversary of a “devastating terrorist attack on Israel”.

He said there was “genuine police scepticism” about the nature of a vigil, pointing to the events on the steps of the Opera House last October.

“We don’t want a repeat of that,” he said.

The Australian Federal Police meanwhile has confirmed it has offered or is providing support to state and territory police agencies ahead of expected protests.

Despite calls from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton for Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan to invoke pandemic-era police powers and block planned events this weekend, a protest is planned for Sunday and a vigil on Monday in Melbourne.

Ms Allan said Victorian police “already have all the powers they need” to respond to any protest activity.

More officers will deployed over the weekend and will be given extra resources throughout the month.

It follows protests in the city last weekend, where a number of demonstrators waved the flag of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organisation, and carried photos of slain leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The AFP confirmed on Thursday it had launched an operation targeting prohibited symbols, and was now investigating nine complaints of “allegedly publicly displayed prohibited symbols in Victoria while potentially inciting or advocating violence, or hatred, based on race or religion”.

It came a day after NSW police charged a 19-year-old woman with cause public display of prohibited terrorist organisation symbol.

Both Mr Dutton and Prime Minsiter Anthony Albanese — increasingly divided over the foreign policy ramifications of the escalating conflict in the Middle East — have urged people not to protest on October 7.

But Mr Dutton slammed Ms Allan for not following NSW’s lead, demanding she use all the powers in her disposal to stop what he called “a celebration of death”.

“If there is a will, there is a way. Premier Malinauskas in South Australia is making similar steps, but here in Victoria, Premier Allan is hiding behind an argument of convenience,” Mr Dutton said.

“The Premier of Victoria had great capacity, she was part of a government that deployed the police force here in Victoria during the course of COVID to enforce the rule of law and I think the Victorian Labor Party should have the same resolve in relation to this issue and I’m sure there are laws available and that will be an issue for the Premier.”

Ms Allan labelled Mr Dutton as “divisive” for his earlier comments.

“I’ll continue to respond to what Victoria Police advise me, not what the divisive federal leader of the opposition who, when he comes into town, thinks is an appropriate way to run a commentary on how we are best placed to support a grieving community here in Melbourne,” she said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said October 7 was a “day of grieving and remembrance, and should be honoured as such”.

“I would hope that Australians would ensure that it can be honoured with respect and solemnity. It is a solemn occasion. It’s not an occasion for protest,” she said.