Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In response to the Bondi Beach terror attack at the end of last year, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns’ state government introduced sweeping new laws to designate public areas as “restricted” from public assemblies—i.e., protests—following a declared terrorist incident. The ABC reported in December: “Public assemblies banned for 14 days across Sydney as police enact new laws.”
This is vaguely reminiscent of the COVID days, isn’t it? Just “self-isolate for 14 days” to “flatten the curve.”
As they say, the problem with Australians is not that so many of us are descended from convicts, but that so many of us are descended from prison officers. Basically, give the Government extraordinary powers, and they’ll surely abuse them.
Anyway, as expected, just two weeks of no-protest activity quickly turned into more. As we saw with COVID, it seems like a case of “just two more weeks to flatten the pro-Palestinian curve.”
Granted, years of pro-Palestinian anti-Israel protests have been incredibly polarising and disruptive for many people, so for some, it’s a welcome relief—but for others, it’s a blatant infringement on our democratic rights.
Mind you, it should be noted that in Australia, the “right to protest” isn’t an absolute right written into the Constitution or a Bill of Rights or whatever. Instead, the High Court has established an implied freedom of political communication. Basically, the government can’t stop you from talking politics, but they can tell you where and when you aren’t allowed to do it.
Fast-forward to recently, and it was announced that Israel President Isaac Herzog would be coming to Australia. What do you think happened with the anti-protest saga? Another ban!
In early February, the ABC reported the inevitable: “NSW protest restrictions extended ahead of Israel president’s visit.” Of course they were. But despite the ban, what did the pro-Palestinian protesters do? They broke the law and protested anyway! Duh!
Just yesterday, thousands turned up at Sydney Town Hall, and when they tried to march, we saw the predictable result: pepper spray, chaos, and dozens of arrests.
So much for social cohesion. Clearly, for these determined activists, the law is just something to be ignored.
But despite the determination of the protesters, the police held the line. Police methodically shoved protesters out of the way. They systematically threw the more troublesome protesters to the pavement and arrested them. Those who didn’t listen got sprayed in the face with pepper spray.
More arrests on the train tracks. Some Muslim men tried to pray, but it was no use. They quickly learnt that public prayer was not on the approved list of activities as police pulled them up and shoved them aside. Police indiscriminately punched protesters of all ages who disobeyed their orders. They weren’t sexist, either; they punched anybody of any gender. You know, equal rights and all.
According to SBS, where the protest organisers labelled this “state violence,” NSW Greens MP Abigail Boyd was allegedly punched in the head and neck. And to make it clear who was in charge—and to end the day on a high note—the Riot Squad charged the remaining protesters who refused to leave.
The police truly did not discriminate that day. They didn’t care about your gender, or religion, or age, or sexual orientation, or anything else. If you were breaking the law just by being there, you were a prime target.
Australia’s dear leader, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, couldn’t believe that his social cohesion plan has been such a failure. The BBC reported the fallout: “Australia PM ‘devastated’ as police and protesters clash over Israeli leader’s visit.”
Despite the chaos on the streets, Premier Chris Minns thought his police officers did what they needed to do. The Guardian confirmed: “Chris Minns defends police in ‘impossible situation’ after video emerges of officers punching protesters in Sydney.”
Although, SBS fought back after footage went viral of the Muslim men being hauled aside mid-prayer: “Muslim groups condemn police over Sydney protest incident as Minns defends response,” where they noted that over a hundred Islamic organisations have now called for the Police Commissioner to resign, labelling the disruption to their prayer as “un-Australian” and “abhorrent.” Because, you know, Muslim men should be allowed to pray wherever they want to.
So it seems the great Australian social cohesion experiment is slowly going up in flames. It turns out, if you want people to get along, new laws designed to keep people quiet aren’t exactly the silver bullet the Government had hoped for.
But hey, at least we’ve confirmed one thing: in 2026, the protesters have quickly learnt that the people in charge are not descended from convicts as first thought, but from prison officers who really enjoy their work. But never fear—I’m sure just another two more weeks to flatten the curve of social disunity should do it.
MUSIC
Allégro by Emmit Fenn
In response to the Bondi Beach terror attack at the end of last year, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns’ state government introduced sweeping new laws to designate public areas as “restricted” from public assemblies—i.e., protests—following a declared terrorist incident. The ABC reported in December: “Public assemblies banned for 14 days across Sydney as police enact new laws.”
This is vaguely reminiscent of the COVID days, isn’t it? Just “self-isolate for 14 days” to “flatten the curve.”
As they say, the problem with Australians is not that so many of us are descended from convicts, but that so many of us are descended from prison officers. Basically, give the Government extraordinary powers, and they’ll surely abuse them.
Anyway, as expected, just two weeks of no-protest activity quickly turned into more. As we saw with COVID, it seems like a case of “just two more weeks to flatten the pro-Palestinian curve.”
Granted, years of pro-Palestinian anti-Israel protests have been incredibly polarising and disruptive for many people, so for some, it’s a welcome relief—but for others, it’s a blatant infringement on our democratic rights.
Mind you, it should be noted that in Australia, the “right to protest” isn’t an absolute right written into the Constitution or a Bill of Rights or whatever. Instead, the High Court has established an implied freedom of political communication. Basically, the government can’t stop you from talking politics, but they can tell you where and when you aren’t allowed to do it.
Fast-forward to recently, and it was announced that Israel President Isaac Herzog would be coming to Australia. What do you think happened with the anti-protest saga? Another ban!
In early February, the ABC reported the inevitable: “NSW protest restrictions extended ahead of Israel president’s visit.” Of course they were. But despite the ban, what did the pro-Palestinian protesters do? They broke the law and protested anyway! Duh!
Just yesterday, thousands turned up at Sydney Town Hall, and when they tried to march, we saw the predictable result: pepper spray, chaos, and dozens of arrests.
So much for social cohesion. Clearly, for these determined activists, the law is just something to be ignored.
But despite the determination of the protesters, the police held the line. Police methodically shoved protesters out of the way. They systematically threw the more troublesome protesters to the pavement and arrested them. Those who didn’t listen got sprayed in the face with pepper spray.
More arrests on the train tracks. Some Muslim men tried to pray, but it was no use. They quickly learnt that public prayer was not on the approved list of activities as police pulled them up and shoved them aside. Police indiscriminately punched protesters of all ages who disobeyed their orders. They weren’t sexist, either; they punched anybody of any gender. You know, equal rights and all.
According to SBS, where the protest organisers labelled this “state violence,” NSW Greens MP Abigail Boyd was allegedly punched in the head and neck. And to make it clear who was in charge—and to end the day on a high note—the Riot Squad charged the remaining protesters who refused to leave.
The police truly did not discriminate that day. They didn’t care about your gender, or religion, or age, or sexual orientation, or anything else. If you were breaking the law just by being there, you were a prime target.
Australia’s dear leader, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, couldn’t believe that his social cohesion plan has been such a failure. The BBC reported the fallout: “Australia PM ‘devastated’ as police and protesters clash over Israeli leader’s visit.”
Despite the chaos on the streets, Premier Chris Minns thought his police officers did what they needed to do. The Guardian confirmed: “Chris Minns defends police in ‘impossible situation’ after video emerges of officers punching protesters in Sydney.”
Although, SBS fought back after footage went viral of the Muslim men being hauled aside mid-prayer: “Muslim groups condemn police over Sydney protest incident as Minns defends response,” where they noted that over a hundred Islamic organisations have now called for the Police Commissioner to resign, labelling the disruption to their prayer as “un-Australian” and “abhorrent.” Because, you know, Muslim men should be allowed to pray wherever they want to.
So it seems the great Australian social cohesion experiment is slowly going up in flames. It turns out, if you want people to get along, new laws designed to keep people quiet aren’t exactly the silver bullet the Government had hoped for.
But hey, at least we’ve confirmed one thing: in 2026, the protesters have quickly learnt that the people in charge are not descended from convicts as first thought, but from prison officers who really enjoy their work. But never fear—I’m sure just another two more weeks to flatten the curve of social disunity should do it.
MUSIC
Allégro by Emmit Fenn
