Update: The decision by the NSW Supreme Court to deem the protest rally illegal was overturned by the Court of Appeal shortly before the rally officially began.
June 6 Update: NSW Supreme Court ruling deems protest rally 'illegal'.
At this afternoon's media briefing, June 5 2020, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, expressed her concern that the planned rally tomorrow, June 6, 2020 as maybe "illegal". The decision was taken as the expected numbers increased markedly in the time since being given approval and there was no agreed plan to ensure that the required social distancing protocols are observed.
Ms Berejiklian said it "never was and never will be" the state's intention to allow thousands of people to be "flagrantly disregarding the [state's] health orders".
Ms Berejiklian has said she has "empathy for people who feel strongly about the issue at heart" of Saturday's planned Sydney protest, but the event presents a public health issue.
"But notwithstanding how people feel about an issue, you cannot disregard the health orders," she said.
"That is why we are saying to people, express your views, bring your views to the attention of people you want to bring that to but in a responsible and safe way. Not through breaching the health orders. That is not acceptable.
"Today, NSW has been very successful only because all of us have taken the hard yards, of making those difficult decisions," she said.
"We've not visited family or attended events, we've not done what we normally to do keep the community safe."NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller also said that "As of this morning, that had escalated to a potential 10,000 protesters turning up and the organiser, himself, admitted that he couldn't ensure that the protesters could adhere to [social distancing].
Commissioner Fuller said after initially approving the protest, the only legal method for the state to stop the protest was Supreme Court action. The matter will be heard at 3.30pm today, Friday.
Police Minister David Elliott also voiced his concern over the protest, and warned that anyone who “plays up” during the planned rally would face the “full force” of the law.
“Not all politicians approve of it but there’s nothing we can do to oppose it,” he said.