Tuesday, 9 September 2025

Northern Metropolitan Region

Anasina GRAY-BARBERIO (Northern Metropolitan) (12:50): (1807) My constituency question is to the Minister for Police. Minister, my constituent wrote to me:

[QUOTE AWAITING VERIFICATION]

I attend the weekly pro-Palestine rallies. At last weekend’s anti-racism rally police behaviour was aggressive and confusing. They tried to funnel thousands of us into a narrow laneway that felt like a trap. Later as we were leaving police blocked us while letting a far-right group march past and assemble opposite. Then came the pepper spray and horses. It felt deliberately set up to provoke conflict.

This account by my constituent reflects broader alarm that police escalate peaceful protest while enabling far-right groups. Minister, what actions will you take to make sure that the policing of far-right extremist groups prevents further harm towards First Nations and multicultural communities without simply expanding police powers?