The NSWNMA’s 2024 annual conference declared its opposition to the state’s controversial anti-protest laws.

Annual conference delegates called on the NSWNMA community  groups  in pressuring the  state  government to repeal anti-protest laws recently used against peaceful protestors demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.

A conference resolution said, “Union members and officials who are standing up against genocide are being targeted by police violence and by draconian anti-protest laws, which impinge on their civic duty, and which the NSW state government has the power to repeal.”

“The existence of laws that impinge on the right to protest is causing increased and undue scrutiny of, and also risks to, NSWNMA members’ professional registration when they partake in protest.”

The resolution followed the arrest of 19 people including two NSWNMA members at Sydney’s Port Botany in March.

They were protesting against the arrival of an Israeli ship of the Zim line, which is believed to transport weapons to Israel and is the target of international maritime union action.

The arrested NSWNMA members were charged with disruption to a major facility and failing to comply with a police direction.

They faced up to two years’ imprisonment and fines of up to

$22,000 but eventually received a six-month good behaviour bond with no conviction recorded.

Also at the Port Botany protest were members of the Maritime Workers Union, Teachers Federation, Australian Services Union and Public Service Association.

Speaking at annual conference, NSWNMA Assistant Secretary Michael Whaites said, “We continue to work with progressive unions in  overturning  the  anti-protest laws that were introduced by the Liberals, and that were sadly supported by Labor.”

SUPREME COURT FINDS LAWS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Following a NSW Supreme Court ruling that parts of the laws were unconstitutional, the state government launched a review of the remaining laws and the NSWNMA made submissions to the review.

Our submissions pointed out that the NSWNMA has a long-standing commitment to many social justice movements and the right to peaceful protest and peaceful assembly has been “the cornerstone of many victories for working people.”

“It is an important role of the union movement to be vigilant about government power being used to silence healthy dissent,” the submission said.

“Part 4AF of the Crimes Act 1900 fails to uphold the right of NSW citizens to peacefully protest. The NSW Supreme Court has already found that parts of the law are constitutionally invalid, and this should serve as an indicator that the law goes too far.”

Political observers say the government of Premier Chris Minns, who praised the police conduct at the Port Botany protest, is unlikely to agree to any change of the law.

NSWNMA members at the protest were particularly motivated by the appalling casualties suffered by Gaza healthcare personnel.

In June, the UN Human Rights Office denounced the reported killing of 500 health workers in Gaza since 7 October 2023, against the backdrop of Israel’s “systematic” attacks on hospitals and other medical facilities in violation of the laws of war.