Greens candidate awarded more than $21,000 in legal costs after charges dropped in pro-Palestine protest

A former Greens candidate has been awarded more than $21,000 in legal costs after police dropped charges linked to a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney's southwest. Hannah Thomas, 35, was injured during a June demonstration outside SEC Plating in Belmore, where protesters gathered to oppose the company, which is reportedly linked to components used in US fighter jets for the Israeli Defence Forces. Five people were arrested during the unauthorised protest; Thomas faced charges of hindering or resisting police, and two counts of failing to comply with a direction to disperse. On September 9, the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the charges, saying there was no longer a basis for pursuing the case. At Bankstown Local Court on Friday, Thomas was awarded $21,795 for her legal fees. Three other co-accused protesters also received costs orders after their charges were dropped.

Thomas described the outcome as a relief and said the charges should never have been brought. The protest was part of a broader demonstration outside the Belmore facility, where dozens of participants gathered to voice opposition to SEC Plating. Police attempted to move the group on, and a scuffle broke out when some did not comply with a move-on order issued to around 60 people. A photograph from June showed the seriousness of Thomas's injuries, with her right eye swollen and closed, and her face marked by bleeding. The company has denied any direct link to the production of components for US jets.

The decision to drop charges came after the DPP indicated there was no longer a sufficient basis to proceed, a move that cleared the way for Thomas to pursue legal costs.Thomas's legal team has suggested they may pursue a civil case in the Supreme Court, alleging malicious prosecution, assault and battery, abuse of process, and misfeasance of public office. During the scuffle, Thomas sustained a severe eye injury that required surgery, prompting concern about potential permanent vision damage. She has previously described the protest as peaceful and has criticized anti-protest laws, arguing they threaten free expression and the ability to advocate for international action on issues such as sanctions on Israel.

NSW Police have maintained that they did not observe misconduct in body-worn camera footage of the incident. Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden has previously stated that no inappropriate conduct by officers was evident in the video. A police spokesperson also indicated that Ms. Thomas sustained facial injuries during an arrest for allegedly failing to comply with a police direction, and that the arrest was discontinued and she was taken to Bankstown Hospital for treatment. The case has drawn attention to the tactics used during protests near corporate sites and to the broader debate over anti-protest legislation in New South Wales.

Thomas, who contested the federal election in the seat of Grayndler, has remained an outspoken advocate on foreign policy and sanctions, drawing on past anti-Israel protests. She has participated in demonstrations challenging international actions and has criticized government policies regarding protest regulation. The Daily Mail, which first reported the case, said it has sought comment from NSW Police and noted ongoing discussions around the internal review into the arrest of Thomas and the four other protesters.