Police powers and Muslims: Australian state faces tensions over new laws

SYDNEY, Australia (MNTV) — Concerns have emerged that controversial protest laws introduced by the Chris Minns government in New South Wales state of Australia could deepen mistrust between authorities and Muslim communities, after official advice warned that heavy-handed policing might alienate minorities, reports The Guardian. 

Documents show the NSW premier was cautioned before the laws were passed that aggressive enforcement powers, particularly in the context of counter-terrorism and hate speech reforms, could disproportionately affect already marginalized groups, including Muslims.

The warning came from Alexandra Caples, who provided a briefing note shortly after the mass shooting during a festival on Dec. 14 that left 15 people dead. In outlining potential responses, Caples urged the government to ensure any new legislation balanced security concerns with proportionality, judicial oversight and meaningful community engagement.

Her advice stressed the importance of avoiding measures that could unintentionally target minority communities. Past counter-terrorism and policing laws, she noted, had often been applied disproportionately to groups including Indigenous Australians, ethnic minorities and young people — a pattern that has long been a source of concern among Muslim organizations.

“Heavy-handed enforcement may alienate communities, making individuals less likely to cooperate with authorities or report genuine threats,” Caples wrote in the memorandum attached to her correspondence.

Despite the caution, new laws aimed at restricting gun ownership and strengthening police powers to limit public protests were passed on Christmas Eve. The legislation allows the state’s police commissioner to curb public assemblies in designated areas without judicial oversight in the event of a declared terrorist attack. Civil liberties groups have strongly criticized the changes.

The debate intensified during the February visit to Australia by Israeli president Isaac Herzog, when police used expanded powers to ban certain street protests in parts of central Sydney.

Clashes later erupted between police and demonstrators. The situation drew particular anger from Muslim community leaders after officers forcibly removed a group of Muslim men who were praying nearby, an incident that many saw as symbolic of the tensions surrounding the new policing approach.

The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils and other Muslim groups expressed outrage, saying the use of force during prayers reinforced fears that Muslim communities were being unfairly targeted.

The Minns government has defended the police response, saying protesters had been clearly briefed on permitted activities and blaming violence on participants attempting to breach enforcement lines.

Officials also rejected suggestions that Caples’ warnings had been ignored, arguing that her advice did not directly address the specific laws passed on Dec.24. A government spokesperson said the legislation was designed with a single goal: protecting public safety. “We stand by our laws to keep the community safe,” the spokesperson said.

Critics remain unconvinced. One argued the government had disregarded professional advice about the risks of overly aggressive policing. “Noting that anti-terror laws have been disproportionately applied to groups such as ethnic minorities, the Minns government runs a very high risk that by ignoring advice about heavy-handed enforcement of these laws, it’s fuelling social division.” 

Michael Zekulin said incidents such as police force used against Muslims during prayer could strengthen perceptions that Muslim communities are being singled out. Such perceptions, he argued, can make individuals more vulnerable to extremist narratives that claim governments are hostile toward Muslims.

The president of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Rateb Jneid, criticized what he described as the government’s continued defence of police actions and a failure to address concerns raised by Muslim communities about proposed anti-hate laws.

One controversial proposal involves banning the phrase “globalize the intifada,” used by groups opposing Israel’s war on Gaza.