Overview

• Justice Belinda Rigg refused the NSW Police commissioner’s application for a prohibition order, ruling the Harbour Bridge march lawful and granting demonstrators immunity from summary offences such as obstructing traffic.
• Organisers estimate up to 50,000 participants will join the 'March for Humanity', which has drawn support from 55 unions and civil society groups as well as five Labor MPs who defied Premier Chris Minns.
• NSW Police and Premier Chris Minns argued the protest posed unprecedented safety and logistical challenges on less than a week’s notice, warning of traffic chaos and the risk of a crowd crush.
• Police now face coordinating road closures on the bridge from 11:30 am to 4 pm on Sunday and deploying multiple agencies to manage the demonstration safely.
• The court’s decision highlights ongoing tensions between the right to peaceful assembly and public order under NSW's permit system and sets a benchmark for future large-scale protests on key infrastructure.