Mark Speakman
NSW Leader of the Opposition
Alister Henskens
Shadow Attorney General
Mark Coure
Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism
Paul Toole
Shadow Minister for Police
The Minns Labor Government has today chosen politics over public safety. When the NSW Opposition moved to suspend standing orders to debate stronger protest laws, Labor teamed up with the Greens to shut it down.
This was a chance to act on laws that would have stopped extremist and repeat protests, protected families and businesses, and backed our police. Instead, Labor has once again taken the easy option.
The Minns Labor Government is on the go-slow train. They are tired, small target, and running out of steam. Like Thomas the Tank Engine, they are full of smiles for the cameras but going nowhere fast.
They said they were reviewing protest laws. They said they would act. Yet in less than six months, we have seen a second neo-Nazi protest outside Australia’s oldest parliament while Labor sits on its hands. Today’s performance from the Leader of the House, Ron Hoenig, looked more like his TikTok content than serious leadership.
After the vote was lost, Labor’s Member for Blacktown, Stephen Bali, brushed it off as an “interruption”. That “interruption” was a plan to give police the power to order masked protesters to unmask or leave, to stop extremists using disguises to avoid accountability, and to make repeat protest organisers contribute to policing costs.
It says everything about how out of touch this government has become. When issues hit too close to home, their instinct is to ignore the substance, attack the messenger and pretend the problem doesn’t exist.
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said the Minns Labor Government is asleep at the wheel while extremists and repeat protesters march through Sydney.
“Twice in six months we’ve seen neo-Nazis take front up at Parliament and still Labor does nothing. NSW needs a government that stands up for the public, not one that hides behind the Greens,” Mr Speakman said.
Shadow Attorney General Alister Henskens said it’s time that the Minns Labor Government stopped sitting on its hands. They should support our laws which would stop this terrible community division being played out on our streets.
“Our bill would give police the power to unmask violent protesters and to stop repeat offenders from hijacking our streets. Labor blocked these changes being advanced through the Parliament. That says it all,” Mr Henskens said.
Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said this government had a choice today.
“They could back the police or back the Greens. They chose the Greens. NSW deserves leadership, not excuses,” Mr Coure said.
Shadow Minister for Police Paul Toole said Labor had a chance to show they stand with the men and women who keep this state safe, and they blew it.
“When you side with the Greens instead of the police, you show exactly where your priorities are, and it’s not with the people of NSW,” Mr Toole said.