Bridge protest misread creates new caucus problem for premier

3 months ago 19

Chris Minns read his MPs the riot act early last year. If his Labor colleagues had a passion for international relations, the premier warned them via an ABC interview, they should head down the Hume Highway and become an MP in Canberra.

Almost 100,000 pro-Palestine protesters marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Minns was referencing MPs speaking out about the bitterly divisive issue of Palestine and Israel, the catalyst for some of the most fiery debates on the floor of NSW Labor Party conferences over decades. In this instance, two of Minns’ MPs had signed a letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, criticising the decision to suspend payments to the main UN agency in Gaza after Israel provided intelligence that it said linked some employees to the October 7, 2023 attacks.

“I can understand people feel passionately about international affairs,” Minns told ABC’s Stateline, “but honestly, if that’s your passion, and that’s where your desires are, your policy interests are, well, run for federal parliament.”

Some 18 months on, Minns had better hope they do not follow his directions because 10 of them – or just shy of 20 per cent of his Labor caucus – revealed their passion/desires/interests when they took part in the pro-Palestine march across Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday.

The most senior of those MPs, among at least 90,000 protesters, was the government’s leader of the upper house and Environment Minister Penny Sharpe. Her attendance sent a clear message that the Left of the party can, despite Minns’ instructions, walk and chew gum at the same time.

Also on the bridge were former Labor general secretary turned upper house MP Bob Nanva, Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib and backbenchers Stephen Lawrence, Sarah Kaine, Anthony D’Adam, Lynda Voltz, Cameron Murphy, Kylie Wilkinson and Peter Primrose. Former Labor premier and long-term Palestine supporter Bob Carr joined them.

Dib, a Muslim with family ties to Palestine, was understandably motivated to be on the bridge. The others had their own motivation – and they sent a clear message to Minns that being an elected official in NSW does not preclude you from having a position on a humanitarian crisis. It also shows that the caucus Minns has ruled with an iron fist since his election as leader is willing to think for itself.

The first caucus meeting after the march, on Tuesday, was heated. MPs were angry. Before he was overruled by the Supreme Court and the protest given the greenlight, Minns said he would not tolerate shutting down the “central artery” of Sydney, despite there being a history of that happening. (In 2007, the Harbour Bridge was closed for a full day to give US Vice-President Dick Cheney a clear ride through the city.) As is his skill, Minns played to both sides, stressing he had empathy for the plight of civilians in Gaza.

Minns’ argument against closing the bridge fell on deaf ears for some of his loyal lieutenants because the premier had been antagonistic about the weekly Palestine Action Group marches through the CBD. He wanted to curtail how regularly the group protested, citing the “huge drain on the public purse” because of the police presence needed.

There is no greater way to rile Labor types than to suggest that protesting should be limited. A motion was moved at the caucus meeting, ultimately watered down by Bob Nanva, which reiterated “the right to protest”. It was aimed squarely at Minns.

Conservative elder John Howard described the Liberal Party as a broad church, but so is the Labor Party. The caucus, while built on solidarity, has myriad passions within its ranks, whether it be environmental, workers’ rights, human rights or social issues. To keep caucus members happy, each interest group is routinely thrown a bone. Minns, the ultimate pragmatist, has ensured this has happened.

Gay conversion ban, pill-testing, national parks, pets in rentals. Something for everyone.

NSW is not left-leaning Victoria, nor is it Queensland. But the state has a tradition of centrist Labor premiers from Neville Wran to Bob Carr. The latter was well known for his tendency to wade into law-and-order issues which would usually be the Liberals’ bailiwick.

Minns has the same law-and-order inclinations as Carr. He would be proud to be described as a centrist premier. But what he does not have is conviction, and some of his MPs are now starting to fear that the Minns government is style over substance.

The premier has managed to keep his caucus disciplined and focused. But for the first time in his leadership, Labor MPs have shown they are prepared to defy him. Minns will dismiss current unrest as a byproduct of a divisive geopolitical issue, but to bat it away could prove dangerous for a leader whose best skill to date has been keeping his troops united.

Alexandra Smith is state political editor.