NSW post-Bondi protest laws struck down by court

NSW protest laws introduced in the wake of the Bondi Beach massacre have been struck down by the state’s Supreme Court, which ruled they unconstitutionally burdened the freedom of political communication.

The Court of Appeal accepted arguments by three protest groups that the expanded police powers were unconstitutional, in a judgment handed down on Thursday afternoon.

The laws, passed during an emergency sitting of parliament on Christmas Eve, gave police the power to prevent the authorisation of public assemblies in certain areas for up to three months after a terror attack.

Chief Justice Andrew Bell, Justice Julie Ward and Justice Stephen Free found in a joint judgment that the laws “impermissibly burdened” the implied right to freedom of political communication under Australia’s constitution.

Premier Chris Minns said the government was “obviously disappointed” by the ruling but stood by its decision to introduce the legislation in response to the December 14 terror attack that claimed 15 lives.