The NSW Police Force is aware of an upcoming planned public assembly to be conducted on, and in the vicinity of, the Port of Newcastle from 22 to 25 November 2024.
The NSWPF acknowledges the right to free speech and political demonstration and in the vast majority of cases when a Form 1 is submitted, the NSWPF is able to negotiate a public assembly that does not compromise the safety of the participants, community and police.
Unfortunately, on this occasion an agreed position was not able to be reached.
The Supreme Court today has validated the NSW Police Force's concerns about the safety of the assembly, by prohibiting both the water and land component of the public assembly.
For their own safety and that of the other users of the Port, we request that people who still attend this event refrain from entering the harbour on kayaks or other vessels with the intention to obstruct other users of the Port, or engage in other forms of civil disobedience. We also encourage all participants to follow the directions of police.
