The New South Wales police have announced an end to the restrictions that previously banned protests in certain areas of Sydney, effective immediately after Israeli President Isaac Herzog departed Australia. Commissioner Mal Lanyon stated that the decision allows protest organizers to once again utilize the form 1 system for arranging marches with police oversight, thereby removing the risk of arrest for demonstrators in the Sydney Central Business District and eastern suburbs.

Last year, the police were granted controversial powers to restrict protests in increments of 14 days, extendable for up to 90 days, following a terror attack. This move, which was part of a rush of new legislation by the Minns government in response to the Bondi Beach terror incident, has faced criticism and is currently undergoing a constitutional challenge in court. The legal examination will begin this Thursday, indicating potential implications for the broader authority granted to police regarding public demonstrations.

Prior to this change, the Palestine Action Group was denied permission to carry out a planned march from the town hall to the state parliament due to the restrictions in place. The termination of these restrictions might enable more vocal demonstrations concerning Palestinian rights and related issues in the wake of intensified geopolitical tensions, allowing activists renewed avenues to express their positions in public spaces.