Police set up exclusion zone in Sydneys CBD to prevent further anti-lockdown protests
NSW Police have ended an operation to limit traffic entering the Sydney CBD aimed at preventing a repeat of last weekend’s large anti-lockdown protest.
Authorities set up an exclusion zone around the CBD that lasted from 9am to 3pm on Saturday.
The large zone was patrolled by up to 1,000 officers and stretched from the Bradfield Highway at Milsons Point north of the Harbour Bridge, to the City West Link at Lilyfield, to South Dowling St near Todman Ave at Zetland, and east to New South Head Rd near Ocean Ave at Edgecliff.
Footage uploaded to social media on Saturday afternoon appeared to show the Sydney CBD largely empty and devoid of large numbers of protesters.
Seven taxi and rideshare services received a prohibition notice banning them from taking passengers to the CBD over the six-hour period.
A notice in the Uber app said the police operation prohibited transit through the large area, as well as any pick-ups and drop-offs.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon said earlier officers would remain in the CBD throughout the day to monitor any potential protests suggested by online activity.
"We have made it very, very clear that people should not go into the city and engage in activity like we saw last week," he told reporters on Saturday morning.
"In terms of the scale, it is a large operation. If we don't see scenes that we saw last week, that is a great outcome for us. Those resources can be used elsewhere."
On Friday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged people to think about their loved ones and not protest.
"Can I please warn against anybody taking up illegal activity and protesting?" she said. "Your actions will hurt, forget about the rest of us, but you could be taking the disease home and passing it on to your parents, your siblings, or anybody you might have limited contact with.
"Do not give those you love the most a death sentence."
On Friday night, a 49-year-old Central Coast man was charged for online incitement related to last Saturday's anti-lockdown protest.
He is the 85th person to be charged after around 3,500 people attended last weekend's protest. Over 300 fines have been issued.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said on Saturday he was disappointed that a number of NSW Health staff were reportedly at last weekend's protest.
"Investigations are currently continuing with both health and the police. I understand there was one paramedic and either assistant in nursing or nursing staff; and one other," he said.
"In a democracy people are entitled to demonstrate legally, but it was not a legal demonstration. It was not approved by police. It has consequences both under public health orders and potentially under the Crimes Act."
Authorities discovered one individual, who had been turned away by police officers at Central Station on the day of the protest and told to return home, had tested positive for COVID-19 the following day.
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NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant on Friday said the implications of any super-spreader transmission are highly concerning.
"It just is so thoughtless, inconsiderate and the impact on others so great. And we have no latitude with the Delta strain," she said.
"If that person would have attended the protest, they would have been infectious... we are working through that issue.
"I just cannot contemplate why people at this point in time would think that gathering together in a space, travelling on public transport from all parts of NSW would be in anyone's interest at the moment."
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