Anadolu staff
17 April 2026•Update: 17 April 2026
The highest court in the Australian state of New South Wales struck down a controversial anti-protest law introduced after the deadly Bondi Beach attack, ruling that the expanded police powers were unconstitutional and violated political communication freedoms, local media reported Thursday.
The Court of Appeal accepted protest groups’ arguments that the emergency provisions granting broader police authority were unconstitutional, ABC News reported.
Emergency measures passed on Christmas Eve to restrict protests in parts of Sydney for nearly two months were struck down in the ruling.
In a joint decision, Chief Justice Andrew Bell, Justice Julie Ward and Justice Stephen Free said the measures “impermissibly burdened” the constitutional freedom of political communication.
Supporters inside Sydney’s Banco Court quietly celebrated the decision as the verdict was delivered.
Under the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, mass protests were restricted, effectively allowing authorities to ban demonstrations for up to 90 days.
The ruling marks a setback for the state government led by New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and is the second anti-protest law overturned in six months.
On the evening of Dec. 14 last year, two attackers opened fire at Bondi Beach in Sydney, killing 15 people and injuring 42 others. Police later described the incident as a “terrorist attack.”
One of the two shooters was killed, while the other was critically injured.
