NSW Police in courtroom bid to dam anti-establishment rally throughout Sydney Harbour Bridge

New South Wales Police has initiated a case within the Supreme Court towards the organisers of a protest linked to anti-vaxxers, conspiracy theorists and sovereign residents that entails plans for a march throughout the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

An pressing listening to has been scheduled for Monday afternoon, with the organisers given the weekend to collect materials or proof they are going to depend on.

Organisers have advised the ABC they’ve deliberate to stroll from Bradfield Park at Milsons Point to Hyde Park within the CBD subsequent Saturday earlier than audio system handle the viewers.

The occasion has been put collectively by an umbrella group often known as Australia Unites Against Government Corruption.

Paperwork has been lodged with NSW Police — often known as a Form 1 — which serves as a notification to authorities of a deliberate public meeting.

The Supreme Court right now heard that discover was served on August 27, and an invite from police to confer on the plans was set down for Friday.

But the matter then landed earlier than obligation decide Justice Peter Garling, who noticed that the events wanted “an urgent hearing” as a result of authorities might have “the maximum time possible” to arrange if the occasion finally ends up going forward as an authorised meeting.

In a press release, NSW Police confirmed the drive was in search of an order prohibiting a public meeting over the harbour bridge on September 13.

“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,” the assertion mentioned.

“As the matter will be before the court, the NSW Police Force won’t be making further comment at this stage.”

Case set for Monday

If legal professionals representing NSW Police persuade a decide to make a prohibition order over the occasion, it might not ban individuals from taking part, however individuals wouldn’t obtain safety towards being charged with sure offences, like blocking roads.

Justice Garling was advised the listening to might conclude on Monday relying on the quantity of cross-examination concerned.

While no celebration appeared in courtroom on behalf of the respondents, the decide advised a barrister representing NSW Police that if the case begins on Monday it should “continue until it’s finished”.

“It may be that the court’s ordinary sitting hours need to be adjusted, to take into account the nature of the matter,” Justice Garling mentioned.

“The parties ought be prepared for some flexibility about the way in which this matter will be heard.”

Justice Garling mentioned he anticipated that if both celebration recordsdata any affidavit, its writer needs to be accessible to be cross-examined.

The decide earlier learn out an electronic mail from Mary-Jane Liddicoat, who is known as because the respondent within the case, to the obligation registrar in response to correspondence which requested events to attend the courtroom in Sydney.

Ms Liddicoat’s electronic mail mentioned she and her authorized consultant had been interstate and sought to verify that the deadline for paperwork was Monday, whereas requesting the registrar “urgently apologise” to the decide.