The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) opened proceedings Oct. 19 into New South Wales police conduct at a Feb. 9 Sydney protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit.
An Oct. 8 update said the inquiry will review police preparations, officers’ use of force and OC spray, whether arrest powers were used improperly, and possible changes to protest policing.
The Guardian reported that counsel assisting Kirsten Edwards SC gave a preliminary account describing limited physical violence by protesters and a mostly peaceful early phase of the rally. ABC News reported that Edwards said the inquiry had made no findings.
ABC News also reported that Edwards cited some protesters appearing to taunt officers and throw a rock, potted plants, a water bottle and an object resembling a milkshake. Police counsel David Sulan SC described the verbal abuse directed at officers as “an unprecedented level of serious verbal abuse,” The Guardian reported.
ABC News reported that Edwards outlined two cases for examination: a protester who experienced convulsive seizures after being pepper-sprayed and an older man who was struck in the face.
In a May 24 update, the LECC said it was assessing more than 800 complaints: 556 submitted to the commission and 267 to police. It was also reviewing more than 450 submitted items and more than 1,000 hours of CCTV footage. ABC News’ Oct. 19 report cited a separate register of 400 complaints but did not explain how that figure relates to the commission’s May count.
A Public Assembly Restriction Declaration scheme was introduced after the Dec. 14, 2025, Bondi Beach terrorist attack. A declaration under the scheme restricted assemblies across Sydney until it expired Feb. 17, 2026. On April 16, the New South Wales Court of Appeal declared the scheme’s provisions invalid, ruling their purpose incompatible with representative government and the restrictions disproportionate.
The LECC expects private examinations to run for about five weeks before public examinations of senior commissioned officers. It has not announced dates for those later sessions.
