>>23978158

>>23981329

>>24022907

>>24210131

>>24218882

NSW Police warn of arrests ahead of banned protest march in Sydney

BIMINI PLESSER - 6 February 2026

NSW Police say they are prepared to make arrests if pro-Palestinian protesters try to illegally march through Sydney’s inner-city protest exclusion zone on Monday.

Mass protests are expected in cities across Australia on Monday in opposition to Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit.

In Sydney, the Palestine Action Group has planned a CBD march from Town Hall to Parliament House, despite ongoing protest restrictions.

The entire planned march route is within areas under the ban on moving demonstrations extended by NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon due to “serious public safety concerns” ahead of Mr Herzog’s visit.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said on Friday police were hoping to avoid any conflict with protesters, but the proposed march could not be allowed to go ahead.

Mr Dunstan said more than 3000 extra police officers would be working during Mr Herzog’s visit, with at least 500 officers assigned to Monday’s rally.

He confirmed that protesters could legally gather at Town Hall, but if the crowd spilled over into pedestrian areas or the road, police would have “no choice” but to issue “move on’’ directions or make arrests.

While it was not the intention of police to use force or pepper spray, Mr Dunstan could not rule either out.

“We would ask for the leaders of the Palestinian Action Group to show leadership,” he said.

“Do not place those people attending the protest at risk … we don’t want to use [those tactics]. We don’t think it’s necessary and … we would much prefer they take this route that we have on offer.”

Mr Dunstan said the proposed alternate route from Hyde Park to Belmont Park on the CBD’s southern edge – which had so far been refused – would allow a “lawful, peaceful protest”.

When asked about a legal “grey area” discussed by protesters – walking single file from Town Hall to Parliament House to avoid interfering with traffic or pedestrians, therefore skirting the ban on Form 1 street marches – Mr Dunstan said it was “borderline ridiculous”.

“It’s not realistic,” he said.

“They’ve outlined 4000 people will be in attendance. As recently as yesterday, they’ve indicated to us that that number may increase to 5000 at a minimum.

“To walk single file … is borderline ridiculous … It’s not practical, not possible.”

With no way to predict how the protest would go, Mr Dunstan urged people to “stay away from the Town Hall vicinity” on Monday evening, if possible.

On Friday morning, NSW Premier Chris Minns said public servants had been warned against working in the Sydney CBD on Monday.

“We need to make sure that Monday night does not devolve into some kind of conflict on Sydney streets – that would send a horrifying message to the rest of the world and the rest of the country,” Mr Minns said.

“I’m confident that if common sense prevails and people approach Monday with a bit of respect for other people that live in our city, then we can get through it.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said on Friday he was saddened to see how far authorities had to go to “maintain order”.

“It is shameful that so many resources are required to keep Australians safe from other Australians but that is the sad reality of our times,” Mr Ryvchin posted on X.

On Friday afternoon, PAG took to Instagram to express their anger with road closures and public transport delays set for Mr Herzog’s visit, and reaffirm their plans to protest.

“Entire Sydney CBD to be shut down for 5 days for the visit of genocide-inciting Herzog. But we’re not allowed to protest on our own streets??” they wrote.

“Tell them (authorities) they’re dreaming. See you at Town Hall on Monday!”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/nsw-police-warn-of-arrests-ahead-of-banned-protest-march-in-sydney/news-story/fcd6114bfd246e5115fa36271926c609

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nC8RmMb5Y6Y

>>23843505 (pb)

Australia and Indonesia sign new security treaty - paving way for joint military training and deeper defence co-operation

BEN PACKHAM and DIAN SEPTIARI - 6 February 2026

Australia will help build a joint military training centre in Indonesia that could open the way for a permanent Australian Defence Force presence in the country following the signing of a new bilateral security treaty.

Anthony Albanese signed the new Australia-Indonesia Treaty on Common Security with Indonesian counterpart Prabowo ­Subianto in Jakarta on Friday, saying the countries’ relationship was now “the strongest” it had ever been.

Australia also offered to embed a senior Indonesian military officer in the ADF, ramp up ­exchanges of junior officers, and support the construction of the new training facility.

The Prime Minister said the defence support was similar to that Australia provided to other nations including Singapore, and left open the prospect that the training centre could enable the stationing of ADF personnel in ­Indonesia, which has a longstanding non-aligned foreign policy.

“Indonesia is a sovereign country. All of that is a matter for Indonesia to consider down the track,” Mr Albanese said. “What we are doing, though, is reaching out and offering our support where it is helpful for it to be given.”

The treaty, which was finalised late last year, commits the countries to regular leader-level and ministerial consultations on ­security matters and consideration of joint measures in ­response to “adverse challenges”.

It follows a similar agreement struck in 1995 by Paul Keating and Indonesia’s then-president Suharto, which was axed by ­Jakarta following Australia’s ­intervention in East Timor.

“(The new treaty) demonstrates the strength of our partnership and depth of our trust and co-operation,” Mr Albanese said.

“Australia and Indonesia share one of the world’s longest maritime boundaries, which naturally makes us close partners.”

Mr Prabowo said the agreement “reflects our firm commitment to the principles of good neighbourliness and our free and active foreign policy”.

“Indonesia and Australia are destined to live side by side, and we have chosen to build this relationship on the basis of mutual trust and good faith,” he said. ­“Indonesia seeks friendship with all parties, and we do not wish to have any enemies. Therefore, we believe that this agreement will become one of the important pillars for stability and co-operation in our region.”

Asked whether the treaty would commit Indonesia to come to Australia’s defence in a crisis, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono said: “That is hypothetical. You only know chocolate pie is chocolate pie once you’ve tasted it and know how it tastes.”

The treaty comes amid efforts by Mr Prabowo to strengthen his country’s relationships, including with China and Russia, the latter of which sought to station military aircraft in Indonesia last year and wants to build a satellite launch station in the country.

The Lowy Institute’s Susannah Patton said the treaty was “a low-cost way of responding positively to Australia’s priorities”, and would not alter Indonesia’s non-aligned stance or its determination to work more closely with Moscow and Beijing. “Even so, the commitment to consult is important, because it puts Australia to the front of the pack of Indonesia’s list of partners,” she said.

“For example, if there were a crisis over Taiwan or the South China Sea, Australia would have a strong case that it should be the first country that Indonesia should speak to about its response.

“This agreement would also help Australia raise sensitive ­issues like the prospect raised last year that Russia would base aircraft in Indonesia.”

Indonesian foreign policy analyst Dewi Fortuna Anwar said the commitment to consultation under the treaty needed to be a two-way street. She said Indonesia was alarmed when it learned of the AUKUS pact and the stationing of US marines in Australia.

“There should be no surprises, and no misinterpretation,” the senior National Research and Innovation Agency researcher said.

“It increases transparency and mutual understanding. And if there is a common threat, they can consult on what steps to take. It’s not automatic. We cannot frame it as collective defence. That’s against our law. But I’m sure that as we consult more, conduct more exercises together, and improve communication between our militaries and real-time co-operation, we’ll be better able to deal with common threats.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/australia-and-indonesia-sign-new-security-treaty-paving-way-for-joint-military-training-and-deeper-defence-cooperation/news-story/022b06f242a4b704b13e9f178d99028a

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3brqQEWeLFM