O'Sullivan becomes 31st person charged under Queensland ban

Helen O’Sullivan was arrested outside Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday morning, becoming the 31st person charged under Queensland’s ban on a pro-Palestine phrase.

Supporters gathered outside the court as 28 people appeared on earlier charges for uttering or displaying the same expression.

Police took O’Sullivan into custody at the solidarity rally outside Brisbane Magistrates Court.

The source briefing describes O’Sullivan as a humanitarian, a grandmother and a Gaza flotilla survivor.

O’Sullivan also took part in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s humanitarian mission. Israeli forces seized the vessel she was aboard in international waters just weeks before the Brisbane arrest.

Organisers said Israeli forces then incarcerated and abused O’Sullivan after the seizure.

David Crisafulli law

Queensland became the first state in Australia to outlaw the phrase when David Crisafulli’s LNP government passed the legislation on 5 March 2026.

The law criminalises the public distribution, publication, display or recitation of the expression if it could cause “menace, harassment or offence”.

The test can apply even to a hypothetical member of the public.

The maximum penalty is up to two years’ imprisonment.

Meanwhile, New South Wales considered a comparable ban and concluded it was legally and constitutionally unfeasible.

Justice for Palestine Magandjin spokesperson Remah Naji said a constitutional challenge is “certainly on the table”.

Sam Woripa Watson said, “These laws are an attack on our rights and an attempt to intimidate us for speaking up for Palestine.”

Organisers are calling on the Queensland government to drop all charges and stop using the law against peaceful political expression.

Watson added, “Helen has shown that we won’t be intimidated and we will keep the fight going.”