Australia news live: NSW police minister says pro-Palestine protests must remain peaceful or ‘you can expect to be arrested’; man dies at Sydney music festival

Emily Wind

Police place large LED signs at Sydney pro-Palestine rally warning against display of Hezbollah imagery

The pro-Palestine rally in Sydney is due to kick off at 1pm, but there’s already a huge turnout at Hyde Park.

Large crowds of all ages have gathered with protest signs and Palestinian flags, and dozens of police are already present.

Police have placed two large LED screens in the park, telling people not to fly Hezbollah flags or imagery with slain leader Hassan Nasrallah.

There is a row of market stalls with people selling their wares, and attenders have been gathering together in pockets of shade ahead of the rally, with 25C heat.

Ellen Vera is attending for the first time today, having travelled from Casula, south-west of Sydney. She said she wasn’t a political person, but the conflict “has to stop”.

It’s inhumane. Humanity is gone.

Vera said she was walking “for the children, the women and the men who cannot get treatment because the hospitals are all blown up”.

Two parachutists reportedly involved in a mid-air collision have been transported to hospital, according to Queensland Ambulance.

A spokesperson said paramedics attended Toogoolawah showgrounds – about 118km north-west of Brisbane – after receiving reports that two parachutists had collided mid-air.

One male patient with significant, and potentially life-threatening, head injuries was airlifted by helicopter to Royal Brisbane and Women’s hospital, she said.

The other patient with a leg injury was in a stable condition and being transported to Princess Alexandra hospital by road.

A young man has died at the Knockout music festival in Sydney last night, according to NSW police.

Police commissioner, Karen Webb, said the death was an “unfortunate circumstance” that had been referred to the coroner.

We understand he had underlying health issues and there’s no suggestion of any drug taking.

Webb said there had been some drug-related hospitalisations associated with the festival.

It’s always risky. Whenever you take illegal drugs, you never know where they’re made, you don’t know what’s in them, and you don’t know how your body’s going to react.

Emily Wind

The NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, also touched on the candlelight vigil planned for tomorrow, on 7 October, and asked people to “think about social cohesion”.

We ask for people to be sensitive. Obviously there’s a lot of hurt and emotion through our community, and I would just call on people to think about that social cohesion mix.

Emily Wind

‘Action will be taken’ if protesters display Hezbollah flag

Asked what would happen if any Hezbollah flags were displayed at today’s rally, assistant commissioner Peter McKenna said organisers had agreed no flags or portraits would be displayed today.

Organisers have asked attenders via social media not to bring Hezbollah flags.

But McKenna said if anyone was found doing so “and are committing an offence, action will be taken”.

Asked if it was against legislation to display a portrait of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, McKenna said “no it’s not”, but “there is a view in certain circumstances it could be seen as offensive, and we will consider that throughout the operation”.

Emily Wind

NSW police say rally response ‘will be proportionate, it will be significant’

The NSW police commissioner, Karen Webb, said the police response began at 10am with a briefing.

Webb said assistant commissioner Peter McKenna would be in command of the police presence today.

Police will work with organisers, police will work with marshals and others to make sure it is a peaceful rally, that people come into the city [and are] leaving the city according to the form 1.

Asked how many police would respond to the rally today, McKenna said “our response will be proportionate, it will be significant”.

Police minister says Sydney pro-Palestine protests must remain peaceful or ‘you can expect to be arrested’

Emily Wind

The NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, has told reporters there will be a “significant police presence” on the streets in Sydney today.

A pro-Palestine rally will take place in Hyde Park from 1pm today, after NSW police previously attempted to stop it from happening in federal court.

Catley said:

Everybody has a right to express their views, but we need to respect each other in doing that.

She added there will be “no problem whatsoever” if people do the right thing, but if not, “you can expect to be arrested”.

Assistant commissioner Peter McKenna added that if people commit criminal offences, display antisocial behaviour or “do anything that places people … [in] jeopardy, we will step in”.

Tertiary education union endorses academic boycott of Israel

Caitlin Cassidy

The national council of Australia’s tertiary education union has overwhelmingly endorsed the academic boycott of Israel and a long term strategy of demilitarisation of the higher education sector, placing pressure on vice-chancellors grappling with a volatile political climate.

The motion, which also calls on university managements to cut ties with the weapons industry and militaries in general, was passed by the National Council of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and branches across the country on Saturday.

The National Council has a membership of 130 delegates, representing Australia’s 38 public universities. Of more than 100 who voted, 11 abstained and five were against.

The vote follows the disbandment of pro-Palestine encampments that were established for months at universities in every state and territory, and similarly urged universities to divest and disclose their connections to weapons manufacturers.

A Senate inquiry into antisemitism on university campuses has heard allegations of unsafe campuses among Jewish and Islamic staff and students amid heightened tensions over the ongoing war in the Middle East.

Cait Kelly

Vegemite and Tim Tams cheaper in UK supermarkets than Australia

Shoppers in the UK are paying less for Australian brands including Vegemite and Tim Tams than customers in Australia, despite the classic products being made in Australia.

A comparison of seven Australian products stocked in UK supermarkets shows they are often cheaper to buy in Britain than at Australia’s two major supermarket chains.

Vegemite retails for $1.93 per 100g at Morrisons but costs customers $2.27 at Coles and $2.21 at Woolworths, according to price checks conducted by Guardian Australia.

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Daniel Hurst

Labor MP John Burns says federal government cannot intervene to stop pro-Palestine protests

The Labor MP Josh Burns responded to the intervention from the Coalition’s home affairs spokesperson, James Paterson, about pro-Palestine rallies coinciding with the 7 October anniversary.

Burns told Sky News that “there are not mechanisms by which the federal government could intervene here”.

Burns said:

What happens on our streets is a matter for the states, and to be frank, I support people’s right to protest – the right to gather and to associate is a fundamental right in Australia. I’m the chair of the Human Rights Committee, and I believe in that.

I would also say that October 7 was, is a devastating day on the calendar, and for people to gather on that day sends a very terrible message about whether or not people are allowing their fellow Australians to grieve, and we must have the ability for all of us to grieve.

I know this is difficult for our Palestinian community, and I know today, people of Lebanese descent and Lebanese Australians are looking at pictures feeling just terrible for their family. And I get it. I get it. And we need to have room and space for everyone to come together and to feel the devastation of this conflict that’s happening right across the world.

So I don’t think that the message of protesting on October 7 does anything else other than really make people who are grieving feel even more upset and more uncomfortable. And I would urge people who are thinking about doing that to maybe consider another option.