“Anyone who thinks they’re going to come along and hijack this protest or do the wrong thing, police will take swift action.”

Disruption ‘in the nature of peaceful protests’

Rigg noted there was significant support for the march from hundreds of organisations including Amnesty International, various churches, the Jewish Council of Australia, the nurses and midwives association and other trade unions.

The group had called for a “march for humanity” over the Sydney Harbour Bridge in response to mounting evidence of “widespread starvation, malnutrition and disease” in Gaza, according to the United Nations.

‘There to keep everyone safe’

Protesters are expected to march from the CBD to North Sydney, with the bridge closed from 11.30am to about 4pm.

“But we believe police will be able to handle the protest on the bridge so long as people are peaceful, that they listen to what police ask them to do and that they are sensible.”

What happened in court?

“I’m personally concerned about that,” he said.

“A prohibition order may well increase the number of people who attend the protest, and exacerbate the potential for unrest and violence,” she said.