Premier defends police as Greens MP claims she was beaten

The NSW premier has defended the actions of police as footage of violent arrests emerges, and a NSW MP claims she was beaten by officers at Monday’s protest over the visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane has called on Chris Minns to sack members of his own government who attended the rally if they broke the law.

The demonstration descended into chaos on Monday night after police charged at protesters who tried to march towards NSW Parliament despite the area falling under the public assembly restriction area. Police arrested 27 protesters.

Minns has conceded the actions of police at the rally, including an officer punching a man repeatedly, “don’t look good”, but urged the public not to judge officers based on short clips.

“The circumstances leading to the confrontation are incredibly important. And perhaps even more important than that is the fact that NSW Police and the government did everything possible to avoid a confrontation last night in the middle of Sydney,” Minns told Seven’s Sunrise.

“Now what’s not shown on the videos because it didn’t happen, is what would have happened if protesters had breached police lines in the middle of Sydney, it would have been chaos, even worse than the scenes that were reported on the news.”

Greens MP Abigail Boyd was in the throng when police began to forcefully move on protesters. She told ABC Radio National her body was left battered and sore after she was “beaten” by officers.

“I got pushed so hard my feet left the ground after I told them I was a member of parliament, then I got shoved so hard in my chin … which kind of whipped my neck back” she said.

“I’m standing there, there’s hardly anyone around me, and they’ve just targeted me and attacked me. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. I can’t believe this is the country we live in – I’m actually still in shock.”

A number of Labor MPs joined the Greens MPs at the rally, including Dr Sarah Kaine who addressed the crowd from Town Hall square as tensions began to flare on George Street.

She told the crowd she was not there to represent the Labor leadership, but there on behalf of rank and file members of the party who rejected Herzog’s visit.

Speaking to 2GB radio, Sloane urged the premier to take action against Kaine and the other MPs if it emerged they broke any laws. She accused the MPs of whipping up a frenzy.

“The premier should hold his team members responsible, and if they have flouted those laws, he should sack those team members,” Sloane told 2GB.

“His own Labor caucus, who defied him, who defied the police and stood at the front of that rally. They are supposed to be lawmakers.”

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