Hundreds of university students rallied in Sydney on Thursday, converging first at Town Hall and later marching to the New South Wales Labor Party headquarters on Sussex Street. The demonstration was part of a broader student-led protest movement demanding an end to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Guardian is reporting that the students are chanting powerful slogans as the crowd reached the Labor offices: “Penny Wong you will see, Palestine will be free” and “Chris Minns you will see, Palestine will be free.” The slogans targeted two prominent Labor figures—Foreign Minister Pen

Hundreds of university students rallied in Sydney on Thursday, converging first at Town Hall and later marching to the New South Wales Labor Party headquarters on Sussex Street. The demonstration was part of a broader student-led protest movement demanding an end to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The Guardian

is reporting that the students are chanting powerful slogans as the crowd reached the Labor offices: “Penny Wong you will see, Palestine will be free” and “Chris Minns you will see, Palestine will be free.” The slogans targeted two prominent Labor figures—Foreign Minister Penny Wong and NSW Premier Chris Minns, who have come under increasing pressure from protesters for their perceived inaction or delayed stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. The protest in Sydney was mirrored in Melbourne, where students gathered at the State Library after walking out of campuses including the University of Melbourne. No arrests were reported in Sydney, according to New South Wales Police. The deputy Greens leader and spokesperson for higher education, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, joined the demonstrators at Town Hall. On social media, she encouraged students to attend, stating they had her “full permission” to skip class in support of the cause.

Students rally against the killings and starvation in Gaza outside the Sydney Town Hall on Thursday. Photograph: Richard Milnes/Shutterstock via The Guardian

Why Penny Wong and Chris Minns?

Foreign Minister Penny Wong is one of the most senior members of the Albanese government and holds significant influence over Australia's international diplomatic positions. Her name became a focal point of student protests due to what many demonstrators see as the Australian government’s slow response in recognizing Palestinian statehood amid mounting civilian casualties in Gaza. Wong has recently voiced her support for the recognition of a Palestinian state, arguing that Australia is "late to the cause." Speaking at the Australian National University in May 2024, she emphasized that a two-state solution is essential for lasting peace in the region. “Recognition of Palestine is not just an act of symbolism. It is a practical step towards a two-state solution,” she said. However, many activists feel that such statements, while welcome, have come too late and have not translated into concrete action. NSW Premier Chris Minns, on the other hand, has become a target of student frustration due to his silence and lack of vocal support for Palestinian civilians. As the leader of the Labor Party in New South Wales, Minns wields influence over state-level policy and political discourse. Students criticize Minns for his cautious, even oppositional approach to pro-Palestinian demonstrations. He previously suggested bans on protests deemed “too expensive” and opposed large-scale actions like the Harbour Bridge march, which drew more than 100,000 people. Additionally, Minns has been perceived as closely aligned with pro-Israel and Jewish community interests, drawing demands from activists for greater support for Palestinians.  

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