Australian police charge Hannah Thomas over pro-Palestinian protest

AUSTRALIAN police have charged Hannah Thomas, the daughter of former Attorney-General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, with hindering or resisting police during a pro-Palestinian protest.

ABC News reported that Hannah was issued a "Future Court Attendance Notice" for allegedly hindering or resisting a policeman and refusing to comply with a direction to disperse.

This led to Hannah, 35, being arrested. She sustained serious facial injuries in the process and is now being treated in hospital.

Her lawyer, Peter O'Brien, said the incident might result in her losing sight in one eye.

"I don't want to get into too much detail about the traumatic events on Friday, but I'm 5'1", I weigh about 45 kilos," Thomas said.

"I was engaged in peaceful protests, and my interactions with NSW Police have left me potentially without vision in my right eye permanently."

Earlier, New South Wales police said they will meet the former Greens candidate to interview her and obtain medical advice, which could escalate the investigation to a critical incident where she suffered the serious eye injury requiring surgery.

She will now front Bankstown Local Court on August 12, while four other protesters, a woman and three men, are also facing various charges over the incident.

It was earlier reported that Hannah was injured after allegedly resisting police arrest while picketing outside a business in Sydney’s west, with friends and family warning that she may lose sight in her right eye.

The protest, which attracted between 50 and 60 people, sought to stop pedestrian access to a business that was accused by protesters of “supplying electroplating and surface coating services for a variety of applications including aerospace and defence technology” to Israel.

The Greens alleged the company was reportedly “involved in providing plating services for various parts used in F-35 jets” used by the Israeli military.

NSW police have since denied that anti-protest laws were used in the arrest and said the protesters were given a move-on order for allegedly blocking pedestrian access to the business, which had been the target of protests previously.

Hannah previously contested Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's seat of Grayndler as a Greens federal election candidate but lost.

Greens MP Sue Higginson, who has written to Police Minister Yasmin Catley demanding Thomas’ injury as a critical incident investigation, said she was “shocked but unsurprised”.

Speaking at an event in Sydney on Sunday, Premier Chris Minns said it was too early to comment on whether the arrest was an appropriate use of his government’s anti-protesting laws.

“I’d wait for that information to come in,” he said, adding police were investigating the extent of Thomas’ injuries.

“I’m obviously concerned about her injuries [and] anyone who is in those circumstances I’d wish a speedy recovery.” - June 29, 2025