Australian lawyers demanded that the police allow the people to protest freely during the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Sydney later this month in connection with the World Youth Day. The Australian Bar Association said that the regulations of the police for the current papal visit were not in place during last year's APEC Summit, which took place in the city.
The police and emergency services have been given the right to stop any conduct that causes inconvenience to participants in the events organized by the Catholic Church and scheduled to take place from July 15-20. Under the new regulations, people who refuse to stop engaging in conduct that causes annoyance or inconvenience can be arrested and fined up to $5,250.
Christians, atheists, and gay groups planning to protest the papal visit call the police regulations extreme. The Deputy Police Commissioner David Owens said that the new regulations only supplemented existing police powers. The bar association opined that the terms are vague and penalties too excessive.
The reported largest youth event in the world is expected to attract more than 125,000 international visitors to Sydney. About 26 percent of Australia's 21 million population have described themselves as Catholics according to the most recent census. The Pope is scheduled to conduct a mass at the Royal Randwick Racecourse on July 20. The event has been billed as a major boost to the economy of Sydney.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.