Sunday 22 August 2021

Finally, NSW Government gets serious about stopping anti-public health order protestors gathering for marches

 

Byron Echo, 20 August 2021:


In response to questions about a protest being arranged at the Jack Evans Boat Harbour over the policy for a vaccination being required for crossing the border into Queensland, police media said officers from Tweed/Byron Police District will continue conducting a high-visibility policing operation to ensure compliance of the Public Health Order.....




Hundreds of protesters descended on the [Sydney] CBD despite the police presence and warnings to stay away. (ABC News: Josh Bavas)




NSW Police, News, 21 August 2021:


Police have arrested 47 people and issued more than 260 Penalty Infringement Notices in a swift and coordinated response to disrupt protest activity in the Sydney CBD and across regional NSW.


Earlier today (Saturday 21 August 2021), a high-visibility policing operation was launched across Sydney and regional NSW, to prevent, disrupt and respond to any planned mass gathering or protest activity.


More than 1500 police, including general duties officers from across the Central Metropolitan Region, assisted by specialist police from the Public Order and Riot Squad (PORS), Operations Support Group (OSG), Police Transport Command, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and the Dog and Mounted Unit, were involved in the operation.


Additionally, police issued a prohibition notice to taxi, rideshare and passenger services from conveying passengers to the Sydney CBD, to restrict the movement of potential protesters.


During the state-wide operation, 47 people were arrested and are currently in the process of being charged.


Of note, a 32-year-old Five Dock man was arrested after allegedly assaulting a police officer at Mountain Street, Ultimo, about 12.30pm today. He was taken to Surry Hills Police Station, where charges are expected to be laid. The male constable was taken to hospital for treatment after sustaining injuries to his neck and head.


In addition, police issued 261 Penalty Infringement Notices for breaches of the public health orders.


Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said he was disappointed that some people still ignored all warnings to stay at home and keep their loved ones safe.


We saw the community backlash after the last protest and that was a genuine reflection of how they saw the actions of a small minority,” Mr Elliott said.


That small minority has again chosen to blatantly ignore the very clear, repeated warnings of NSW Police, which is disappointing, frustrating and – frankly – disgraceful.


The actions they have taken are likely to prolong the very lockdown they were protesting about…….



ABC News, 21 August 2021:


After the arrests, users inside encrypted messaging apps where the protests were being organised in real-time began to panic.


"Where are our leaders?!" one Sydney user wrote into the group.


"Where the f*** are people who promised to lead it?"


One member of the channel said they were forced to turn around after running into the police blockade another called the event an "epic fail".


The Sydney protest lost momentum after one of its key organisers, Anthony Khallouf, was jailed yesterday for breaching public health orders…..



Weekend Australian, 21 August 2021;


An anti-lockdown activist who drove from Queensland to Sydney to help organise an unauthorised protest scheduled for Saturday has been sentenced to eight months’ jail for multiple breaches of public health orders and other offences.


Anthony Khallouf, one of the organisers behind last month’s violent anti-lockdown rally, was arrested on Thursday after The Australian revealed he had travelled to Sydney and checked into a luxury hotel.


Hornsby Local Court heard on Friday that Khallouf travelled extensively throughout Sydney after arriving on Sunday, including visiting a relative in the Covid-ravaged west of the city, before being tracked down at a train station in Sydney’s north.


The 29-year-old was also convicted of “false representation resulting in police investigation” after telling followers on Instagram on Wednesday to call police because his life was in danger....



9News, 21 August 2021:


Mr Elliott [NSW Police Minister] said 38,000 cars were stopped from entering Sydney's CBD at various access points and roughly 130 tickets were issued to drivers.


"These orders are not a restriction on freedom of speech, they are a temporary restriction on freedom of movement.


"Please be aware there will again be plenty of police ready to deploy in response to any protest 2.0 planned for tomorrow and if people try to protest next weekend, we will do it all over again.



SBS News, 21 August 2021:


NSW is readying for a raft of new COVID-19 rules to become mandatory on Monday as the premier pleads with Sydney residents to "bunker down" for at least another six weeks.


Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Friday announced stay-at-home orders will now apply in Sydney until at least September 30 while a dozen hotspot local government areas will face harsher rules, including a curfew from 9pm to 5am.


"It is time for all of us to bunker down and take this as seriously as we can," the premier said on Friday…..


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