New South Wales’ top court has made a landmark ruling that criminalises attending a “prohibited” protest, with the court of appeal banning a planned pro-Palestine march to the Sydney Opera House scheduled for this weekend.

The court of appeal on Thursday ruled that anyone marching on the Opera House on Sunday could be held in contempt of court, as it sided with police against the Palestine Action Group due to “extreme” safety concerns.

The barrister for the Palestine Action Group, Felicity Graham, had argued on Wednesday that finding someone in contempt of court would be a “radical departure” from what the supreme court had previously said about orders prohibiting rallies.

Under a regime introduced in NSW in 1979, protest organisers can apply to police ahead of time using a notice of i

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