COVID lockdown protests lead to more than 130 arrests across NSW

Police have responded to 69 protests across New South Wales today, more than a third of which were held in the state's north as part of coordinated demonstrations against lockdown measures.

Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon said he had some sympathy for those unhappy about the extended lockdown in areas without positive COVID cases, but public health orders should be followed.

"We really need to end lockdown, so anything that is putting that at risk is really not welcome," he said.

Demonstrations were held in Ballina, Grafton, Lismore, Port Macquarie, Nowra, Wagga Wagga, Orange, Mudgee and Sydney.

A police spokesperson said information was being collated, but so far 135 people had been arrested and 436 penalty infringement notices issued for health order breaches.

No good for the common good

Southern Cross University law lecturer, Aidan Ricketts, author of The Activists' Handbook, said the protesters were not doing themselves or their communities any favours.

"I'm clearly in favour of protesting, but this is a very complicated situation with a pandemic," he said.

Mr Ricketts said defying public health orders during a pandemic was hardly going to win over the community.

"It's like you had a group of alcoholics who didn't approve of the drink-driving laws, so they decided to have a drink drive-in down the Pacific Highway," he said.

Police presence across state

The unauthorised protests were held outside NSW Parliament as well as local council chambers.

A police spokesperson said that general duties officers were supported by staff from the riot squad, traffic and highway command, the dog and mounted unit and other specialist units.

In the Riverina about 45 unmasked people attended the protest in Wagga Wagga.

"If people continue to transgress the health orders, particularly stay at home provisions we will very soon have positive infections in this community," Wagga Wagga Police Commander Bob Noble said.

In a statement, a NSW Police spokesperson said footage of a woman "observed to be hindering police in execution of an arrest" had been reviewed.

The spokesperson said police would continue to look at footage to identify any further offences during today's protest activity.

Of the 69 demonstrations held, there were eight in the Central Metropolitan Region, nine in the North West Metropolitan Region, 11 in the South West Metropolitan Region, 24 in the Northern Region, 13 in the Southern Region and four in the Western Region.