# NSW Government Spends Hundreds of Thousands on Defending Protest Laws | Melbourne News

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/melbourne-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7572838/nsw-government-spends-hundreds-of-thousands-on-defending-protest-laws-melbourne-news
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/melbourne-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7572838/nsw-government-spends-hundreds-of-thousands-on-defending-protest-laws-melbourne-news.md
Podcast: [Melbourne News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!](https://stenobird.com/podcast/melbourne-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7572838)
Published: 2026-07-09T15:23:10+00:00
Episode link: https://sources.thednn.ai/5805f3c1e77d3e70
Audio file: https://api.fastcast.ai/audio/37574c77-1cda-467a-ae8a-8b23510154ad.mp3
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Duration seconds: 131

## Resource

New South Wales government and police are paying a steep price for defending controversial anti-protest laws—over $300,000 total—after courts struck them down as unconstitutional, ruling they violated political speech rights. The latest case, costing more than $117,000, involved laws enacted after a major attack and used during a February protest against the Israeli president. This isn’t the first blow: just six months prior, another government law expanding police powers near places of worship was also overturned, costing nearly $96,000. Internal Labor party debates had already raised concerns about legal viability. Activists call it a waste of taxpayer money and evidence of a crackdown on democratic expression, while the government insists it was necessary for public safety during a foreign leader’s visit. Some legal wins remain, like a case over major events declarations that cost $27,000, but protesters are still pursuing appeals to drop charges. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai. View sources & latest updates: https://sources.thednn.ai/5805f3c1e77d3e70

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