Latest news with #Sexton
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Protester confident in fight against new police powers
A state's solicitor-general has defended controversial laws that grant police the power to move protesters on from places of worship if they are deemed to be disruptive. Michael Sexton SC faced the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday on behalf of the state government amid a challenge to the validity of anti-protest laws implemented in February. Josh Lees, on behalf of the Palestine Action Group, launched legal action over the new laws which he claims are very broad, undefined, and threaten the right to protest in NSW. Mr Sexton said the powers were confined to protecting people who were being targeted by disruptive protesters when entering or leaving a place of worship. He told the court it was "difficult" to imagine a situation in which the laws would be enacted without the provocation of protesters causing harassment, intimidation or fear. The police powers had an "obvious and legitimate purpose" after being introduced in response to threats and attacks at places of worship around Australia, Mr Sexton said. Rather than standing alone, he told the court the laws were meant to be read in conjunction with other legislation which would lend context and application tests. Mr Lees' barrister Craig Lenehan SC accused the state government of attempting to have the judge perform "judicial surgery" because of their unclear construction of the law. He said the law had not been tailored for purpose and didn't provide any clarity to either police or protesters about the reach of the powers or the definition of nearness. Mr Lenehan took aim at the "legislative blunderbuss" which he said was "blasting away at an ill-defined mischief" and would likely have a chilling effect on protesting in NSW. "Because of those vagaries, the upshot is that a person might just stay home," he told the court. Mr Lees' legal team argued the laws allow police to direct protesters to desist, even in instances where there was no evidence a worshipper had been obstructed, harassed or was in fear. That meant the laws had stretched police powers beyond their legitimate constitutional bounds, the court was told. Mr Lenehan contended the laws were discriminatory because they expressly target certain types of political speech in a way that inevitably favoured some viewpoints over others. Mr Sexton argued the validity of the laws wasn't affected by the fact there were exemptions for union rallies or for people in charge of places of worship to permit protests. After the hearing, Mr Lees said he was "very confident" in securing a positive court outcome. "These laws are unconstitutional because of how vaguely and broadly they're worded which threatens the right to protest," he said outside court. "I think we can say very fairly that the government's legal representatives had no answer to that today." Justice Anna Mitchelmore has reserved her decision. The contested laws were introduced by the state Labor government after a spate of anti-Semitic attacks across the nation and amid concerns about rallies going past the Great Synagogue in the Sydney CBD. Before their passage, Attorney-General Michael Daley said stronger penalties and boosted police powers would ensure people could practise their faith in safety. "We believe these proposed reforms strike the right balance between protecting people of faith and the community's right to protest," he said. But a rabbi and other progressive faith leaders at the time warned the extra restrictions would lead to the over-policing of peaceful protests, including those by faith communities. A state's solicitor-general has defended controversial laws that grant police the power to move protesters on from places of worship if they are deemed to be disruptive. Michael Sexton SC faced the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday on behalf of the state government amid a challenge to the validity of anti-protest laws implemented in February. Josh Lees, on behalf of the Palestine Action Group, launched legal action over the new laws which he claims are very broad, undefined, and threaten the right to protest in NSW. Mr Sexton said the powers were confined to protecting people who were being targeted by disruptive protesters when entering or leaving a place of worship. He told the court it was "difficult" to imagine a situation in which the laws would be enacted without the provocation of protesters causing harassment, intimidation or fear. The police powers had an "obvious and legitimate purpose" after being introduced in response to threats and attacks at places of worship around Australia, Mr Sexton said. Rather than standing alone, he told the court the laws were meant to be read in conjunction with other legislation which would lend context and application tests. Mr Lees' barrister Craig Lenehan SC accused the state government of attempting to have the judge perform "judicial surgery" because of their unclear construction of the law. He said the law had not been tailored for purpose and didn't provide any clarity to either police or protesters about the reach of the powers or the definition of nearness. Mr Lenehan took aim at the "legislative blunderbuss" which he said was "blasting away at an ill-defined mischief" and would likely have a chilling effect on protesting in NSW. "Because of those vagaries, the upshot is that a person might just stay home," he told the court. Mr Lees' legal team argued the laws allow police to direct protesters to desist, even in instances where there was no evidence a worshipper had been obstructed, harassed or was in fear. That meant the laws had stretched police powers beyond their legitimate constitutional bounds, the court was told. Mr Lenehan contended the laws were discriminatory because they expressly target certain types of political speech in a way that inevitably favoured some viewpoints over others. Mr Sexton argued the validity of the laws wasn't affected by the fact there were exemptions for union rallies or for people in charge of places of worship to permit protests. After the hearing, Mr Lees said he was "very confident" in securing a positive court outcome. "These laws are unconstitutional because of how vaguely and broadly they're worded which threatens the right to protest," he said outside court. "I think we can say very fairly that the government's legal representatives had no answer to that today." Justice Anna Mitchelmore has reserved her decision. The contested laws were introduced by the state Labor government after a spate of anti-Semitic attacks across the nation and amid concerns about rallies going past the Great Synagogue in the Sydney CBD. Before their passage, Attorney-General Michael Daley said stronger penalties and boosted police powers would ensure people could practise their faith in safety. "We believe these proposed reforms strike the right balance between protecting people of faith and the community's right to protest," he said. But a rabbi and other progressive faith leaders at the time warned the extra restrictions would lead to the over-policing of peaceful protests, including those by faith communities. A state's solicitor-general has defended controversial laws that grant police the power to move protesters on from places of worship if they are deemed to be disruptive. Michael Sexton SC faced the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday on behalf of the state government amid a challenge to the validity of anti-protest laws implemented in February. Josh Lees, on behalf of the Palestine Action Group, launched legal action over the new laws which he claims are very broad, undefined, and threaten the right to protest in NSW. Mr Sexton said the powers were confined to protecting people who were being targeted by disruptive protesters when entering or leaving a place of worship. He told the court it was "difficult" to imagine a situation in which the laws would be enacted without the provocation of protesters causing harassment, intimidation or fear. The police powers had an "obvious and legitimate purpose" after being introduced in response to threats and attacks at places of worship around Australia, Mr Sexton said. Rather than standing alone, he told the court the laws were meant to be read in conjunction with other legislation which would lend context and application tests. Mr Lees' barrister Craig Lenehan SC accused the state government of attempting to have the judge perform "judicial surgery" because of their unclear construction of the law. He said the law had not been tailored for purpose and didn't provide any clarity to either police or protesters about the reach of the powers or the definition of nearness. Mr Lenehan took aim at the "legislative blunderbuss" which he said was "blasting away at an ill-defined mischief" and would likely have a chilling effect on protesting in NSW. "Because of those vagaries, the upshot is that a person might just stay home," he told the court. Mr Lees' legal team argued the laws allow police to direct protesters to desist, even in instances where there was no evidence a worshipper had been obstructed, harassed or was in fear. That meant the laws had stretched police powers beyond their legitimate constitutional bounds, the court was told. Mr Lenehan contended the laws were discriminatory because they expressly target certain types of political speech in a way that inevitably favoured some viewpoints over others. Mr Sexton argued the validity of the laws wasn't affected by the fact there were exemptions for union rallies or for people in charge of places of worship to permit protests. After the hearing, Mr Lees said he was "very confident" in securing a positive court outcome. "These laws are unconstitutional because of how vaguely and broadly they're worded which threatens the right to protest," he said outside court. "I think we can say very fairly that the government's legal representatives had no answer to that today." Justice Anna Mitchelmore has reserved her decision. The contested laws were introduced by the state Labor government after a spate of anti-Semitic attacks across the nation and amid concerns about rallies going past the Great Synagogue in the Sydney CBD. Before their passage, Attorney-General Michael Daley said stronger penalties and boosted police powers would ensure people could practise their faith in safety. "We believe these proposed reforms strike the right balance between protecting people of faith and the community's right to protest," he said. But a rabbi and other progressive faith leaders at the time warned the extra restrictions would lead to the over-policing of peaceful protests, including those by faith communities. A state's solicitor-general has defended controversial laws that grant police the power to move protesters on from places of worship if they are deemed to be disruptive. Michael Sexton SC faced the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday on behalf of the state government amid a challenge to the validity of anti-protest laws implemented in February. Josh Lees, on behalf of the Palestine Action Group, launched legal action over the new laws which he claims are very broad, undefined, and threaten the right to protest in NSW. Mr Sexton said the powers were confined to protecting people who were being targeted by disruptive protesters when entering or leaving a place of worship. He told the court it was "difficult" to imagine a situation in which the laws would be enacted without the provocation of protesters causing harassment, intimidation or fear. The police powers had an "obvious and legitimate purpose" after being introduced in response to threats and attacks at places of worship around Australia, Mr Sexton said. Rather than standing alone, he told the court the laws were meant to be read in conjunction with other legislation which would lend context and application tests. Mr Lees' barrister Craig Lenehan SC accused the state government of attempting to have the judge perform "judicial surgery" because of their unclear construction of the law. He said the law had not been tailored for purpose and didn't provide any clarity to either police or protesters about the reach of the powers or the definition of nearness. Mr Lenehan took aim at the "legislative blunderbuss" which he said was "blasting away at an ill-defined mischief" and would likely have a chilling effect on protesting in NSW. "Because of those vagaries, the upshot is that a person might just stay home," he told the court. Mr Lees' legal team argued the laws allow police to direct protesters to desist, even in instances where there was no evidence a worshipper had been obstructed, harassed or was in fear. That meant the laws had stretched police powers beyond their legitimate constitutional bounds, the court was told. Mr Lenehan contended the laws were discriminatory because they expressly target certain types of political speech in a way that inevitably favoured some viewpoints over others. Mr Sexton argued the validity of the laws wasn't affected by the fact there were exemptions for union rallies or for people in charge of places of worship to permit protests. After the hearing, Mr Lees said he was "very confident" in securing a positive court outcome. "These laws are unconstitutional because of how vaguely and broadly they're worded which threatens the right to protest," he said outside court. "I think we can say very fairly that the government's legal representatives had no answer to that today." Justice Anna Mitchelmore has reserved her decision. The contested laws were introduced by the state Labor government after a spate of anti-Semitic attacks across the nation and amid concerns about rallies going past the Great Synagogue in the Sydney CBD. Before their passage, Attorney-General Michael Daley said stronger penalties and boosted police powers would ensure people could practise their faith in safety. "We believe these proposed reforms strike the right balance between protecting people of faith and the community's right to protest," he said. But a rabbi and other progressive faith leaders at the time warned the extra restrictions would lead to the over-policing of peaceful protests, including those by faith communities.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Munster Supporters Club ‘post' cheeky reply to Johnny Sexton after he claimed he'd ditch Leinster over Rieko Ioane beef
MUNSTER Supporters Club "posted" a response to Johnny Sexton after he joked about becoming a Reds season ticket holder. The 39-year-old Advertisement 2 The 2025 British and Irish Lions tour will begin on Friday at the Aviva Stadium Credit: PA 2 Sexton has quipped about becoming a regular at Thomond Park Credit: @MRSC16 Speaking at his first appearance as a member of When asked on Monday about Now, the good folk at the province's official club fan club have responded by taking Sexton up on his remark. They shared a mock-up of a season ticket pass with his name on it. Advertisement Read More On Irish Sport The amusing social media post was captioned: "Great to hear from official Lions Rugby that we have a new member for next season. Your card is in the post Johnny. SUAF." In his autobiography, Sexton He wrote that, after referee Wayne Barnes blew the final whistle, Ioane said to him 'Don't miss your flight tomorrow. Enjoy your retirement you c***'. Sexton responded by calling him 'a fake-humble f*****'. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union Auckland native Ioane reignited the row after the All Blacks beat Ireland last November with an Instagram post with the caption 'Put that in the book'. And Ioane admitted that he might have to win over a few people when he lands in Dublin later this summer. 'I live life on the edge' - Watch Peter O'Mahony storm off after wife Jessica startles him while gardening He said: 'By all my friends' accounts, it's about 50-50 at the moment. We'll try to get that to 60-40 in my favour.' At that same press briefing, the longtime Irish 10 Advertisement Sexton knows a thing or two about the level of scrutiny which comes from the territory, from his tussle with The attention on SOCIAL SEWER The Rathgar man emphasized: 'They're just so young. You've got to give them a chance to learn and experience these things, but the level that they are producing already in their careers is amazing really. 'They're so far ahead of where I was and they've got the world at their feet with the work ethic that they have. Advertisement 'They're humble guys, they do want to learn, they want to practise hard and that's the thing that you look at the most as a coach. 'One thing I disagree with is some of the narrative around it in terms of there's obviously a split in the country in terms of Munster-Leinster and I've been there before. 'I've been in that situation and with social media getting bigger and bigger it's tough on them at times and it shouldn't be like that. "We should be supporting whoever's picked and getting fully behind them. I told them to delete social media.' Advertisement
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Felipe Contepomi: Sam Prendergast 'probably unlucky' to miss out on Lions selection
Felipe Contepomi has expressed his delight at Johnny Sexton's decision to throw himself into coaching with the British and Irish Lions and Ireland, and predicted that Sam Prendergast may yet feature on Andy Farrell's touring roster in Australia. In Dublin as head coach of an Argentina side that will face the Lions at the Aviva Stadium on Friday evening, Contepomi goes back a long way with Sexton who was an up-and-coming out-half at Leinster when the South American was the province's talismanic No.10. It was an injury to Contepomi in the Heineken Cup semi-final defeat of Munster at Croke Park in 2009 that really opened the door for Sexton who shone at GAA HQ and again when Leinster won their first star against Leicester Tigers in the final. The pair have also worked together more recently, when Contepomi spent four years as backs coach with his old provincial team towards the back end of Sexton's playing career. And now they are masterminds in opposing camps. 'I don't know if surprised, I'm delighted,' said the Argentinian about Sexton's decision to quit a full-time corporate role and give his all to a coaching gig that he had already dipped into with the national team on a part-time basis. 'I think he needs to go into rugby. He has a good rugby brain, very good rugby brain and I'm sure that he will have very good mentors there, you know. He knows [Andy] Farrell, he knows a lot of the staff, and I'm sure that he will get the most out of that experience.' As for Prendergast, Contepomi's successor in the famous No.10 jersey was walking in to the province's academy just as he was exiting the building to take on the role of an assistant coach with his native country. That was in 2022. Prendergast, still only 22, will be joining Jack Crowley on the Ireland squad that is due to play Georgia and Portugal next month on the back of a breakthrough year with club and country that was not without its difficult moments. 'Sam was lurking around in in the academy before I left. I could see his talent coming through, I didn't have to be a rugby brain to detect that he was a talented player. He is very talented, he's very good and it's probably debatable and probably unlucky to have to missed out the Lions. 'But he's a very young player and he will have a lot of opportunities. You never know what happens. The Lions, from what I recall, they never finished with the same [number of players] whatever, say, 40 something players they have. 'They never finished the tour with the same [number] who started. So, you need to be ready and, I'm sure he's on the fringe of that. So, I don't know, I'm just assuming, right? I don't have inside information.' Contepomi is working with a squad that is missing a dozen men still involved in the Top 14 playoffs, including the likes of Santiago Chocobares and Juan Cruz Mallia of Toulouse and Guido Petti from European champions Bordeaux-Begles. Centre Justo Piccardo will make his debut and there are three potential debutants off the bench for Argentina who have eleven uncapped players in all in their squad, eight of them from the fledgling Super Rugby Americas scene. ARGENTINA: S Carreras; R Isgró, L Cinti, J Piccardo, I Mendy; T Albornoz, G García; M Vivas, J Montoya (capt), J Sclavi; F Molina, P Rubiolo; P Matera, JM Gonzalez, J Oviedo. Replacements: B Bernasconi, B Wenger, F Coria Marchetti, S Grondona, J Moro, S Benitez Cruz, M Moroni, S Cordero.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Jamison Gibson-Park in doubt for Lions Tour after injury ahead of Argentina clash
FEARS are growing for Jamison Gibson-Park's injury ahead of the Lions Tour. 2 RG Snyman of Leinster carries teammate Jamison Gibson-Park - who was ruled out of the URC Grand Final win last weekend after injury 2 The injury to the Irish number nine has prompted Andy Farrell to draft in England's Jack Van Poortvliet ahead of Friday's game against Argentina If fit, he would be expected to start the But the scrum-half missed Saturday's And that has prompted The Leicester Tigers player had been due to play for England against a France XV this weekend. READ MORE ON RUGBY Van Poortvliet, 24, has won 15 England caps since his debut in 2022. Meanwhile, And, as much as the former out-half might have tried to convince himself he would be happy working in business, he did not require much persuasion to Sexton, 39, said: 'As a player I would have always doubted myself throughout the years, whether it was coming into the Irish set-up for the first time or when you become a Lion for the first time, or Leinster. Most read in Rugby Union 'It's no different now. You're going in, you want to prove yourself, want to show that you can bring value. 'It was something I considered when Andy picked up the phone, you're kind of going, 'Wow'. It's such an honour, how can you say no? 'Big weekend' - Peter O'Mahony embarking on hectic gardening project as he aims to add '300 plants' 'Like, I didn't pick myself. He asked me to come, I considered it for about 30 seconds and ultimately how could you not? I'd have regretted it for the rest of my life.' A part-time role first for the November Internationals and the Six Nations whetted Sexton's appetite.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Russell's Lions snub buried by Sexton as ex-rivals address elephant in the room
Johnny Sexton has got himself a job on the Lions coaching staff and will have to work with Finn Russell - a player he described as "flashy" and snubbed when asked to pick his fly-half Johnny Sexton had claimed he'd pick Owen Farrell to be the British and Irish Lions fly-half before he was called onto the coaching ticket and tasked with working with Finn Russell - who he previously described as "flashy". The Scotland half-half has just claimed the Premiership title with Bath and is tipped to lead the Lions attack, although strong competition exists in Fin Smith and Marcus Smith. Sexton, nearly two years post-retirement, is on the coaching staff and will aid the 10s. That means working with Russell and there had been tipped to be animosity between the pair given Sexton's assessment of the Scot and an admission that he'd have Farrell - who isn't even on the tour - as his fly-half. In an effort to put that issue to bed Sexton and Russell have had a chat with the Irishman claiming his comments were "blown out of proportion" as he prepares to work with the Bath star. He said: 'We had a handshake and a brief chat. What the Lions demands of you is that if there is a rivalry – which there's not but if there was – you leave it at the door. I'm here to help him now. I'm here to give him experiences and answer questions. I'm not here to force myself on him or tell him what to do. 'I'm an inexperienced coach but I've probably seen it all, rugby-wise: I've been bad, I've been dropped, I've been injured. My career has been like this [up and down].' Russell has previously been described as a maverick player such is his willingness to push the envelope and try things, rather than stick to a system. His poor record for Scotland against Ireland has also been bought up, but the 32-year-old admitted previously that he wasn't bothered by Sexton's assessment of him. He told the Telegraph: 'It doesn't annoy me at all. I have never really got to know Johnny. I was out on the 2017 tour but apart from that we have never really had any crossover even in that short time. He was getting ready for the Tests and I was getting ready for the midweek games. I really don't know him that well. 'When you play against someone, there's obviously a competition and a kind of rivalry. He'll have his opinion of me and I'll have mine of him. If he has any comments on me, I am not too stressed about it.' No Irish fly-halves made the cut with Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast overlooked. It means Sexton having to impart his wisdom on Scottish and English tens, but there are 16 Ireland players in the squad with Sexton defending the record number of call-ups. 'Well, Ireland have done pretty well over the last few years, having won the [ Six Nations ] championship last year, the Grand Slam the year before, so you're probably looking over the last three years,' he said. 'They know the way Andy coaches, they know the system. It didn't surprise me because, historically, let's say when there was a Welsh coach and the Welsh team did well, there were the majority of the Welsh team."
