Planned ‘Hands off’ Venezuela protests are unauthorised in Sydney, NSW Police say, as demonstrators urged to reconsider
A sudden demonstration in Sydney protesting the US attack on Venezuela was unauthorized, police say, while officers are urging people to reconsider attending.
On Sunday, the United States confirmed it carried out a “large-scale attack” in the Venezuelan capital Caracas and captured the country’s leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores during the attack.
US President Donald Trump accused Maduro of being “the ringleader of a vast criminal network responsible for smuggling massive amounts of deadly and illegal drugs into the United States.”
He claimed that the United States would govern Venezuela until a “safe, appropriate and reasonable transition” and take advantage of the country’s large oil reserves.
In response, nationwide “emergency” protests were planned in Australia and protest flyers were distributed on social media.
Demonstrations organized by Red Spark and the Latin American Solidarity Network will be held in major Australian capitals from 5pm on Sunday to oppose US actions in Venezuela.
Social media posts outline the protesters’ main demands: that the United States “hands off” Venezuela and that the U.S. government immediately condemn Anthony Albanese’s actions.
“Trump and US imperialism must be stopped,” one post sharing the brochures read.
But public demonstrations have been banned in Sydney since mid-December, when NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon used new powers envisaged in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack.
NSW Police also confirmed that the planned protest at City Hall was not authorized because organizers did not request a Form 1.
Form 1s can provide protesters with legal protection against charges such as unlawful assembly, as long as they are not challenged by police.
“No Form 1 submissions were made by the organizers of this meeting,” a NSW Police spokesman said in a statement.
“On 24 December 2025 the Commissioner of the NSW Police Force issued a Restriction on Public Assembly Notice under the Terrorism (Police Powers) Act 2002.
“This declaration remains in force and works to restrict public gatherings from being allowed in the Sydney metropolitan area.
“As a result, any planned meeting in support of Venezuela is not authorized and without this authorization the event is not legally protected as an authorized meeting.”
NSW Police have urged anyone planning to attend the protest to reconsider.
“The NSW Police Force will have a large presence in the Sydney metropolitan area on 4 January 2026 and will be present at City Hall throughout the afternoon and evening to monitor and supervise this potential meeting,” the spokesperson said.
