More than 1000 people protested outside the NSW Labor conference at Sydney Town Hall on July 27, demanding it and federal Labor stop arming Israel and supporting genocide in Gaza.
Speakers called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns to end Labor’s complicity in Israel’s war. That would mean cutting all military, economic, political and diplomatic ties with Israel and supporting international efforts to prosecute Israel’s war crimes.
The protest was organised by the Palestine Action Group, with support from Students for Palestine, Palestine Justice Movement Sydney and Unionists for Palestine.
Protesters chanted loudly enough to ensure that Labor delegates inside could hear them.
A motion, moved by Bankstown MP Jihad Dib calling on NSW Labor to “recognise Palestine as a sovereign and independent state and as a priority” was carried.
The motion brings NSW Labor largely into line with that last year’s federal conference, at which recognition of Palestinian statehood was supported as an “important priority”.
Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive officer of the pro-Israel Executive Council of Australian Jewry, described the vote as “token symbolism”.
Earlier, as delegates were entering, Action for Public Housing NSW organised a protest calling on Labor to end public housing demolitions and sell-offs and take urgent action to tackle the housing crisis.
Meanwhile, delegates from the Electrical Trades Union walked out during PM Anthony Albanese’s address, calling out “Shame”. They were protesting Labor’s decision to exclude the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union’s construction division from the conference.
On July 28, Pride in Protest called a rally demanding Labor urgently pass the Equality Bill. They said it would provide important anti-discrimination protections and resources to the LGBTIQ community, especially trans people and sex workers.
There was a lot of support for a motion to repeal the anti-protest laws and the youth bail law, and establish a charter of human rights. However, it was defeated.