Pro-Palestine protest organisers ‘a pack of communists’ intent on confrontation with police, Minns tells budget estimates

The NSW premier, Chris Minns, claims protests organised by the Palestine Action Group have resulted in ‘violent behaviour’ and ‘hate speech’. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, has labelled pro-Palestine protest organisers “a pack of communists” as he continues to blame them for violent clashes with police last month, amid ongoing dissent among Labor MPs about the government’s response.

Minns faced questions at NSW budget estimates on Thursday about what he told members of the government about attending pro-Palestine rallies, after four Labor backbenchers attended a protest against the visit by the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, at Sydney’s Town Hall on 9 February.