O'Farrell horrified by Sydney protest

16 Sep 2012, 12:48 pm   -   Source: AAP
The NSW premier Barry O'Farrell has slammed violence at a Sydney rally against an anti-Islam film. (AAP)

The NSW premier Barry O'Farrell has slammed violence at a Sydney rally against an anti-Islam film. (AAP)

The NSW premier has slammed violence at a Sydney rally against an anti-Islam film but says the great majority of Muslims shouldn't be condemned for it.

Violence at a Sydney protest against an anti-Islamist film revealed the "unacceptable face of multiculturalism", NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell says.

While people have the right to protest in Australia, that freedom comes with a responsibility to do so lawfully, he said on Sunday.

The premier said city authorities and police were not informed about Saturday's protest in the CBD in which six police and 17 others were injured, and six men were later charged.

"What we saw yesterday was the unacceptable face of multiculturalism," Mr O'Farrell told Sky News.

"I'm just horrified by what I saw."

The premier said he had discussed the protest with Islamic leaders, who considered it out of step.

But he said in any grouping there would be some extremists.

"What we shouldn't do is condemn the great bulk of Muslims by the actions of a few extremists, any more than you should do with Catholics, Buddhists, Hindus or others," he said.

Mr O'Farrell said the film that sparked a global protest, which resulted in the US ambassador to Libya being killed in a attack on the US consulate, was made by a "fool in the US".

"That foolish action doesn't match what we saw in Sydney yesterday," the premier said.

"It was a stupid film, it's a stupid reaction and worse than that it's an unacceptable reaction because of the violence involved."

Australia and Sydney had one of the world's most successful multicultural societies.

"Episodes like yesterday really do attack what is one of the great foundations of our success which is our multiculturalism," Mr O'Farrell said.

NSW Opposition Leader John Robertson said the violent protests were "completely unacceptable" and those involved were "not reflective of the views and attitudes of the mainstream Australian Muslim community".

"While I respect that people have the right to protest, it should never involve violence like we saw yesterday," he said in a statement.

"There can be no justification for the violence we saw on the streets of Sydney, and in particular the behaviour directed at our police officers.

"The people of NSW will rightly expect those responsible for the violence and attacks on our police to face the full force of the law."

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