APEC in action APEC Australia 2007

1 apec in action

1.1 first test
1.2 chaser incident
1.3 saturday 8th protest
1.4 police name tag removal inquiry

apec in action
the first test

nsw transport minister john watkins warned sydney traffic conditions in city going worsen during apec, , traffic held due arriving leaders , motorcades moving throughout cbd , sydney area. buses stopped because of security measures on sydney harbour bridge , eastern distributor off ramp, , passengers walked because traffic not moving during morning peak on wednesday. however, many sydneysiders took time off or avoided city regular peak hour traffic reduced.

chaser incident


fake security passes used comedians.

on 6 september 2007, eleven cast , crew of australian satirical tv comedy series, chaser s war on including executive producer julian morrow , chas licciardello, detained police outside intercontinental hotel after driving fake motorcade through sydney central business district , breaching apec security zone.

the group breached secure area masquerading motorcade of canadian delegation apec. police realised motorcade hoax when chas licciardello, dressed osama bin laden, stepped out of official-looking car replete canadian flag flying bonnet, outside hotel, u.s. president george w. bush staying. subsequently detained @ surry hills police station questioning, , charged entering restricted zone without justification under apec meeting (police powers) act 2007.

licciardello, morrow , 9 other members of production team released on bail, appear in court on 4 october 2007. incident led criticisms of event s security, , security of apec restricted areas. forged accreditation contained printed phrase s pretty obvious isn t real pass above photograph , joke next it. on 28 april 2008 charges against eleven members dropped new south wales director of public prosecutions (dpp) considered police gave tacit permission group enter restricted zone failing identify fake security badges.

the following day, more members of chaser team (except morrow , licciardello required police stay away apec security areas) conducted further stunt, time dressing line of black limousines made cardboard. police detained , questioned them but, outside exclusion zone, no arrests made.

saturday 8th protest

saturday 8 september saw biggest of organised apec protest rallies. attendance estimated @ 3000 police, 5000 media, , 10,000 event organisers. while police expected crowds of 20,000, heavy rain dampened attendance. rally largely peaceful, consisting of students, , mothers , fathers. 1 incident of violence reported, 17 protesters arrested. 2 police officers injured, 1 officer struck in forehead dart , other officer struck iron bar. riot control truck equipped water cannon called in not used.

police name tag removal inquiry

an inquiry removal of name tags dozens of police officers @ saturday 8th protest launched new south wales police professional standards command following public complaints. human rights monitors member dale mills took on 200 photographs of officers removed name badges. photographs taken during protest showed officers wearing badgeless uniforms. video taken during protest has 1 officer stating badges removed s 1 of policies bosses have week . authorities denied intent of policy conceal officers identities. instead stated pin-backed identification tags presented risk police officers , in future, police assigned protest duty wearing cloth identification tags. demonstrators have contested version, stating police officers @ protest wearing velcro tags.

on tuesday 18 september, inquiry cleared officers of wrongdoing name tags compromised safety of officers.