NEW SOUTH WALES — Fifty-six Labor branches and the entire left faction of NSW Labor have supported motions calling for the repeal or review of anti-protest laws ahead of the state conference. Labor party member Asrah Sobh stated on Friday that scheduling the protest laws matter second last on the agenda represented an attempt to "shut down branch members' voices."

Ms. Sobh said, "The single most submitted issue to state conference was in the social justice and affairs chapter, and that is the right to protest, that is the right to express ourselves in this democratic society." She added that Premier Chris Minns is "essentially not listening to his rank and file, which is not OK … because [the party] is the rank of file at the end of the day." Ms. Sobh also stated, "The party is not one single man up at the top, and like all happy families, debate is an important part of how things work."

The NSW Labor left motion seeks to repeal the 2022 anti-protest laws, which were passed by the Coalition government and include penalties of up to two years in jail for blocking major facilities. The motion also calls for the repeal of a law restricting protests outside places of worship. This law was passed last year after an earlier version from the Minns government was ruled unconstitutional.

The preamble to the motion states that the anti-protest laws "have not delivered that outcome and have instead created conditions where tension and violence at protests are more likely to occur." It references "disturbing scenes" during a February 9 rally against Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Legal Observers NSW released a report on Friday regarding the February 9 protest, based on a review of 150 videos and witness statements, which found a "collective and systemic police escalation."

Gambling reform, Aukus, and Palestine were also prominent issues in motions submitted to the conference. Labor Friends of Palestine and Labor Against War sent a letter to NSW Labor general secretary Dominic Ofner, requesting a debate on the 'Australia and the World' committee report. Their letter stated that sections of this report contradicted motions passed by branches, including a "lengthy endorsement of Aukus" despite an absence of branch motions supporting it. The letter also noted that 14 party units submitted motions that were "unanimous" in their condemnation of ongoing violence concerning Palestine.

Darcy Byrne, mayor of Sydney's Inner West council, described the conference as a critical moment to address the harm caused by poker machines. He said, "For too long, the private interests of the poker machine lobby have trumped the public interest of preventing addiction and harm." Byrne added, "But at this conference, for our party, this is a crisis that can no longer be ignored." Premier Chris Minns is scheduled to address the NSW Labor party conference on Saturday.