NSW Government seeks Canberra’s aid amid soaring costs: Pro-Palestinian protests rack up $1million police bill per event

The NSW state government is paying more than $1 million for each pro-Palestinian protest, with state leaders calling on Canberra to help pay for police presence at rallies.

Rallies and protests have become a regular feature in Sydney and Melbourne’s CBD amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

Protesters vow to meet weekly as long as the war continues, with the cost of overseeing a major gathering to the NSW state government reaching as much as $1 million.

NSW Premier Chris Minns is in high-level talks with Canberra to ask the federal government to help support the Police Bill.

Mr Minns explained that the large number of police required at a protest is expensive and has a crippling impact on the NSW Police Force, but cannot be avoided.

“It costs a lot, it costs over $1 million for a large protest and the reason for that is there is a large police presence involved in these protests,” Mr Minns said.

“They are intended not only to ensure the safety of the community, property and people, but also to safeguard the fundamental principles we have in NSW around racial slurs and hate speech.”

The NSW Police Association has been lobbying the state to pressure the federal government to help pay for police overtime.

Since the beginning of last month, about 3,400 police shifts have been spent managing the protests.

Kevin Morton, president of the NSW Police Association, said the gatherings were putting a strain on police resources.

NSW Premier Chris Minns explained that the large number of police required at a protest is expensive and has a crippling impact on the NSW Police Force

Prime Minister Minns said heavy police presence cannot be avoided as they are there to maintain the safety of the community. He has lobbied the federal government for help paying for police overtime costs

Mr Morton added that there are ‘absolutely’ risks associated with stripping police of their role to protect the community and keep them safe so they can provide cover and be present at protests.

“For every shift you take away from that officer for protests, it’s going to be a little bit harder to fulfill that initial response, which is the required number of police officers who are committed to keeping the community safe.” Daily telegram.

A lack of police resources means the hundreds of police officers needed to manage a large gathering risk leaving other police forces vacant.

“Because they’re not going to pull back the numbers from the protests,” Morton said.

Mr Morton added that the protests are also putting a major strain on the NSW police budget, as the state is forced to pay overtime to officers who cover shifts not on their roster.

However, Mr Morton said NSW police could avoid staff shortages if the federal government helped foot the bill for police overtime at the protests.

Last month, Mr Morton wrote a letter to the Minns government asking the state to lobby Canberra for the extra money.

“Any arrangement other than this will result in a reduced police presence in carrying out their usual duties, thereby endangering the safety of the community,” the submission said.

The complaint was also filed with federal Attorney General Mark Dreyfus.

It is understood NSW has spoken to Victoria about approaching the federal government in a united front for help managing protest costs.

Tens of thousands of people took part in rival rallies in support of Palestine and Israel in Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday.

In Melbourne, more than 50,000 pro-Palestinian protesters brought the city center to a standstill in one of the largest demonstrations since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict.

As they marched to the State Library, many chanted “Out, out, Israel out” and “Free, free Palestine.”

It is understood NSW has spoken to Victoria about approaching the Federal Government in a united front for help managing protest costs (Members of the Australian Jewish community hold signs and flags at a rally in Sydney on November 12)

In Sydney, thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters flooded the CBD to protest in Hyde Park.

Earlier on Sunday, about 5,000 members of Sydney’s Jewish community and supporters gathered at the Entertainment Precinct in Moore Park to protest for the “complete destruction” of Hamas and the release of 240 kidnapped people.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas entered its 37th day of conflict on Sunday.

Israel has agreed to a four-hour daily pause in its war on Gaza, as thousands of Palestinians continue to flee southern Gaza through a ‘corridor’ announced by the Israeli army.