Occupy Sydney
Evictions and Occupy Sydney responses
Evictions and Occupy Sydney responses
-------------------------------------

### NSW Police\-initiated eviction attempts and arrests

[thumb\|Occupy Sydney protester, October 2011](/wiki/File:Occupy_Sydney%2C_2011.jpg "Occupy Sydney, 2011.jpg")
On the morning of Sunday 23 October 2011, more than 100 police led by Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch forcibly removed about 80 protesters, with some protesters claiming that excessive force was used. The police and the New South Wales government defended the level of force, while [Clover Moore](/wiki/Clover_Moore "Clover Moore"), the [Lord Mayor](/wiki/Lord_Mayor "Lord Mayor") of Sydney, expressed concern about the violence, saying: "The city respects the right of people to protest". This eviction and later police action was named Operation Goulding."[Question by Mr Shoebridge to the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Vice\-President of the Executive Council of New South Wales. 2334—OPERATION GOULDING](http://parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/lc/qalc.nsf/c63f637ee30ce3beca2578c300122a54/b7fb62a896fe350dca257a7e000a41a8). parliament.nsw.gov.au/

The Occupy Sydney response to this eviction was supported by Councillor Irene Doutney's motion put to the City of Sydney Council, to allocate Occupy Sydney a permanent protest space. The Occupy Sydney General Assembly agreed to not attempt a full re\-occupation pending the 7 November 2011 Council meeting, where this motion would be heard. An Occupy General Assembly was called to immediately follow the Council meeting. During the interim, some Occupiers maintained a daily physical presence. Police also guarded the Occupation site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Following the adverse 7 November 2011 Council decision, a small group of Occupiers autonomously re\-established the Occupation amidst a heavy police presence. Upon news of a re\-occupation occurring, resources flowed back into Occupy Sydney. The General Assembly later endorsed this Occupation.

In another eviction attempt on 2 February 2012, seven people were arrested and a significant amount of property was seized."[Occupy Sydney is finally over after police move in to Martin Place](http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/occupy-sydney-is-finally-over-after-police-move-in-to-martin-place/story-e6freuy9-1226260199578)," *The Daily Telegraph*, 2012\. Retrieved 29 February 2012\. Despite media reports at the time that declared the end of the occupation, protesters maintained a continuous presence at the site.

On 15 February 2012, seven Occupy activists were arrested following a protest held outside the Greek consulate in Sydney City, over [austerity](/wiki/Austerity "Austerity") measures. Of the seven, five were released without charge and two were charged with public mischief. Both of these individuals later escaped conviction.

### Sydney City Council\-initiated eviction attempts

The first council\-initiated eviction attempt on the Occupy Sydney protest in Martin Place was at 7\.30 p.m. on 3 July 2013\. Occupiers returned on the same evening by 8\.30 p.m. The site was also removed on 5 July 2013 (twice) at 9\.30 a.m. and 4\.00 p.m.; 7 July 2013 at 6\.00 p.m.; and 9 July 2013 at 8\.30 a.m.

On 3 February 2014 an Occupy Sydney participant won a stay of proceedings <http://www.jdbarrister.com.au/images/menu/Priestley%20Court%20of%20Appeal.pdf> against the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions who on the instructions of NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell had appealed an earlier dismissal of a charge of camping and staying overnight.


Were any protesters arrested during the eviction attempt on October 23, 2011?