Source : Perth Now news
Protests at the Sydney Opera House and NSW parliament following Hamas’ deadly terror attack on Israel will be analysed for the role they played in fuelling anti-Semitism in Australia.
The Royal Commission on anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion will this week examine how two Sydney protests may have promoted “hateful conduct” in the lead up to the attack on a Jewish event at Bondi Beach on December 14 last year, leaving 15 people dead.
Two days after more than 1200 people were killed when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, a contentious protest was held at the Opera House in support of Palestine, during which Israeli flags were burned and “f**k Israel” was reportedly chanted.
Commissioner Virginia Bell said the hearing block will focus on how police respond to anti-Semitic incidents and the role of protests within society.
“The right to engage in peaceful protest is a fundamental attribute of democratic life,” she said.
“The commission’s focus in this hearing block will be on whether there are opportunities to improve the way police respond to anti-Semitic conduct in protest settings.”
‘Abhorrent’: Sydney Opera House Protest
The protest at the Sydney Opera House was organised by the Palestinian Action Group and involved about 1000 people marching from Sydney Town Hall to the Opera House, according to police.
The march was in response to the conflict, but was turned to the Opera House after NSW Premier Chris Minns ordered the sails of the Opera House to be lit in blue and white colours in support of the Jewish community.
Mr Minns said the decision was made to “show solidarity with the Jewish communities across NSW”.
“The position of the NSW government is unambiguously clear,” he said at the time.
“We lit up the Opera House in solidarity with the people of Israel and the Jewish community in NSW because we were as horrified as the rest of the community at the indiscriminate slaughter that took place in Israel”.
Protesters were seen waving Palestinian flags, lighting an Israeli flag with a flare and chanting phrases ranging from “resistance is justified when Palestine is occupied”, to anti-Semitic phrases like “f**k the Jews” and “f**k Israel”.
Police also said they had issued a move-on order for someone who approached the march with an Israeli flag.
“To celebrate what’s happened in the Middle East in the last 48 hours is abhorrent. I can’t understand why the protest went ahead in any event,” Mr Minns said.
The premier also backed the decision to light the sails of the Opera House when the Palestine Action Group attempted to host another protest two years later in 2025.
“I’d do it again,” he said.
“We needed to send a clear message that we can never stand for or endorse terrorism, no matter where it happens or who it happens to.”
NSW parliament “hate speech laws” Protest
The second protest involved 60 neo-Nazis in front of the NSW parliament on November 8, 2025.
The protesters, a group of men wearing all black, stood shoulder to shoulder outside parliament with a poster reading “abolish the Jewish lobby”.
The protest was organised by the National Socialist Network (NSN) and lasted about 30 minutes along Macquarie Street in the Sydney CBD.
Members chanted slogans, including some used by the Hitler Youth, such as “the Jewish lobby is destroying our nation”.
They also spoke out against new laws outlawing public incitement of hatred that came into effect on August 15 that year.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said a “communication error” had occurred that resulted in neither police nor the government learning about the protest.
“The purpose for conducting the protest was said to be to protest against Jewish lobby groups but also the current hate speech laws.”
“There was a communication error within the police force for which I did not personally know that today’s protest was taking place,” Mr Lanyon said.
“Accordingly, I had not briefed the Minister for Police or government.”
Mr Minns said the protest would “not be tolerated” and more resources would be allocated to police to prevent future incidents from occurring.
“It’s obviously shameful that these people feel that they have the right to demonstrate in such a despicable, hateful way spewing racism and division on the streets of Sydney.”
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive officer Alex Ryvchin described the neo-Nazi protesters as “evil” and said members were manipulating “the grievances and prejudices that are taking hold in a society”.
“To defeat this, our law enforcement and security agencies need the right legislative tools to monitor and disrupt violent extremists and to prevent them from menacing or physically harming peaceful Australians,” he said.
The royal commission will investigate both incidents and the police response into the protests on August 4.
It will be followed by a hearing block dedicated to anti-Semitic radicalisation pathways in Australia starting from August 5.
“We will also explore the effectiveness of current government, law enforcement and community responses, with a focus on prevention, early intervention and deradicalisation,” Ms Bell said.
