Very disturbing that the police can tick a few boxes and have liability waived. They should always be liable for their actions with the powers they're given.
this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2026
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Worth highlighting I think:
"The protest also fell within a designated area declared a “major event” under state legislation, which gives police expanded powers to move protesters on and search people for the duration of Herzog’s visit. It extinguished the ability for anybody who alleges they were the victim of any tortious acts by police to sue the state. ... Lawrence added: “There will be no civil liability, because under the Major Events Act declaration, all civil liability is extinguished.”
Wow, that's nuts! No wonder the cops were acting as if they could get away with anything!
Because they could.
The parallels to the past are striking! I have just been reading about Joh Belke-Peterson and it is eerie the way the past appears to be repeating:
1971 Springbok Tour & Secret Deals: In response to anti-apartheid protests, Bjelke-Petersen declared a month-long state of emergency, giving police extended powers. Evidence, including revelations in the book Three Crooked Kings, showed Bjelke-Petersen made a secret deal with the police union, promising officers they would not be penalized for any actions taken to suppress demonstrators.
I can’t remember who said it, because ABC radio had a bit of a revolving door of right-wing/Jewish representatives on this morning. When asked about police brutality against protesters the response was along the lines of “police took action against violent protestors” (and I’m super paraphrasing here because I can’t remember the wording) “and calling for the death of all Jews”.
I’m sure not everyone was peaceful but the 2 videos I’ve seen so far were essentially people protesting by just standing around and then having the shit kicked out of them by police. Hell of a stretch to reach the previous statement with the same person blanketing all injured protesters as “radicals” and “violent left” etc.
Feels like more and more of the narrative twisting that has become an ever increasing problem worldwide these days.