Growing legal bill for failed defence of controversial NSW protest laws runs to hundreds of thousands of dollars
Guardian AU
β’Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:00:55 GMT
π° What Happened
The New South Wales government has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal fees unsuccessfully defending constitutional challenges against controversial protest laws. Documents obtained via FOI reveal $117,455.50 was spent on a single challenge to the Public Assembly Restriction Declaration (Pard) laws, which the state's Court of Appeal struck down in April.
π The Backstory
The protest laws were rushed through parliament following the Bondi beach terror attack and were in place during a controversial February rally against Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Civil liberties groups and legal experts argued the laws impermissibly burdened the implied constitutional right to freedom of political communication.
π― Why It Matters
The failed legal defence represents a significant waste of taxpayer money on laws that were likely unconstitutional from the outset. It raises questions about the NSW government's legislative process and its approach to balancing public safety with political dissent.
The New South Wales government has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal fees unsuccessfully defending constitutional challenges against controversial protest laws. Documents obtained via FOI reveal $117,455.50 was spent on a single challenge to the Public Assembly Restriction Declaration (Pard) laws, which the state's Court of Appeal struck down in April.
The protest laws were rushed through parliament following the Bondi beach terror attack and were in place during a controversial February rally against Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Civil liberties groups and legal experts argued the laws impermissibly burdened the implied constitutional right to freedom of political communication.
The failed legal defence represents a significant waste of taxpayer money on laws that were likely unconstitutional from the outset. It raises questions about the NSW government's legislative process and its approach to balancing public safety with political dissent.