MEDIA RELEASE – 18 JUNE 2025, Palestine Action Group
Josh Lees (obo Palestine Action Group) v State of New South Wales
Josh Lees, on behalf of Palestine Action Group, will be represented by barristers Craig Lenehan SC, Felicity Graham, Thomas Wood, and our firm O’Brien Criminal & Civil Solicitors.
Details you need to know to join the Palestine Action Group rally
Plaintiff Josh Lees will speak to the press, alongside spokespeople from previously anti-protest challenges, including Rising Tide, and other civil society organisations. A rally will follow.
What: Press Conference & rally
Where: NSW Supreme Court, 184 Phillip Street Sydney
When: Thursday, 19 June, 9:30am
Who: Palestine Action Group, NSW CCL, Sue Higginson MLC, Jewish Council of Australia, & Rising Tide.
Palestine Action Group at Supreme Court
We will be arguing that this new police power (in LEPRA – s197 and s 200(5)) is overreach, too extreme, and disproportionate, that it would allow police to direct protestors to move on or desist from their protest activities because they are “near” a place of worship, even if there is no basis to believe that any worshipper is obstructed, harassed, or intimidated or caused to feel fear.
We will also be arguing that this new law does not have a legitimate purpose, because it is really about shutting down protests, not about protecting people wishing to practise their faith.
Anti-protest laws come under scrutiny
It has long been the case that protests have been shielded from police move on powers and rightly so. This expansion of police powers is not consistent with our fundamental system of democracy, we will argue.
This new law will affect iconic protest sites like at Town Hall and in Hyde Park. People are entitled to go to the town square and have their say, and gather with others to do so, even if that gets in the way of others or makes others uncomfortable. We look forward to the Court hearing this case and hope that the right to protest will be vindicated.
Please contact social@obriensolicitors or (02) 9261 4281 for any media inquiries.
