A pro-Palestinian march across Brisbane’s Story Bridge has been banned from going ahead after police successfully argued it would be unsafe.
The protest, which was due to take place on Sunday, is part of nationwide action against the ongoing war in Gaza.
Organisers have indicated approximately 7,000 people are expected to attend the rally.
It follows a recent demonstration in NSW, which attracted almost 100,000 protesters who shut down the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Sydney’s March for Humanity earlier this month. (ABC News: Jack Fisher)
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) raised concerns about safety, and mediation with organisers this week — which focused on trying to redirect the march — was unsuccessful, resulting in the court action.
On Thursday, Queensland’s chief magistrate Janelle Brassington told Brisbane Magistrates Court she was satisfied the commissioner had established “a real and significant of risk of safety” because of the features of the site.
Asked outside court if protesters would march across the Story Bridge despite the ruling, organiser Remah Naj said they were considering the next steps.
“We are considering our options in terms of appeal and in terms of what the group will decide in the next few days,” she said.
Rhys Wildman told the court he had “significant concerns” police would be unable to “deliver community safety”. (ABC News: Kimberley Bernard)
Police held concerns over route and safety
QPS Acting Assistant commissioner Rhys Wildman told the court the service would “always support protests” and had “no objection” to the rally, but the planned course was a major issue.
“It’s not the protest, it’s the route,” he said.
“I have significant concerns that we will be unable to deliver community safety and keep the protesters safe, and I have concerns about our officers’ safety.”
Pedestrian access to the Story Bridge has been blocked since March due to concerns over the safety of the footpaths. (ABC News)
Acting Assistant Commissioner Wildman also raised concerns about “the bridge itself”, and the potential for protesters to “jump that low rail and enter those footpaths”.
The Brisbane City Council is currently carrying out urgent repairs to the pedestrian walkways, which have been closed since March due to structural issues.
Lessons from Sydney march
Acting Assistant Commissioner Wildman told the court they were pulling in hundreds of officers from other jurisdictions outside of Brisbane to manage crowds, in addition to those in the city who have been “set aside” for the event.
The court heard organisers of the Sydney Harbour Bridge protest told NSW Police that 10,000 people were expected at their march, but it ballooned to around 90,000 on the day.
Giving evidence by phone, NSW Detective Superintendent Adam Johnson told the court the growing numbers “became problematic”.
“Once a big crowd of people start moving it is very hard to control in a safe fashion,” he said.
NSW Police were concerned about a crowd crush after the overwhelming attendance at the pro-Palestine march over Sydney’s harbour bridge on Sunday, August 3. (ABC News: Liam Patrick)
Detective Superintendent Johnson told the court protesters had nowhere to go, and marshals had become “overwhelmed”.
Police had to turn protesters around and use a Geotech messaging system to redirect people off the bridge.
“Crowd crush was an immediate risk,” he said.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Wildman told the court it would be “extremely challenging” for police if the crowds swelled in the same way.
Alternative route turned down
Police submitted that other events which used the Story Bridge, such as Tour De Brisbane and the Brisbane Marathon, took months to plan.
The court heard police also had concerns about traffic impacts in the area, due to an AFL game on that same afternoon and limited public transport availability.
Police had offered an alternate route to organisers, which would start at Queens Gardens in the CBD, before crossing the Victoria Bridge, and ending at a park in South Brisbane.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Wildman told the court this was a “tried and tested” course which was “easy” and “safe” for police to manage.
“It’s been used many, many times,” he said.
The court heard the protesters had suggested closing some lanes for the protest, but Assistant Commissioner Wildman told the court this was “not a feasible solution” as traffic and pedestrians could not be mixed.
Angus Scott KC, who represented the organisers, told the court the march across the Story Bridge could be managed safely by authorities.
He said that just because “it hasn’t happened in the past” should not be enough to satisfy the court that a protests across it would be too dangerous.
“There’s a first time for everything,” he said.