The New South Wales supreme court has struck down a law that had given police expanded powers to prevent protests near places of worship.

Josh Lees, on behalf of the Palestine Action Group, had challenged the law on the basis that it was unconstitutional.

Justice Anna Mitchelmore ruled on Thursday that the police powers impermissibly burdened the freedom of political communication implied in Australia’s constitution.

The challenge came after the NSW government in February made changes aimed at curbing antisemitism. This included a law which gave police the power to move on protesters who were “in or near” a place of worship.

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The court heard the catalyst for the places of worship bill was a protest outside the Great Synagogue where a member of the Israel Defense Forces was speaking.

“[It] was not a religious event,” PAG’s barrister, Felicity Graham, had told the court.

Lees told reporters after the judgment was delivered: “The Palestinian group has not organised a single protest targeting a place of worship.

“These laws were about targeting anyone who protested near a place of worship, even if it had nothing to do with that place of worship.”