The New South Wales government has admitted that a police officer assaulted pro-Palestine protester Hannah Thomas and falsely imprisoned her during an arrest at a Sydney protest in 2025, according to court documents filed in a civil case.
Documents seen by Guardian Australia show the state has acknowledged that a police officer punched Thomas in the eye while holding a torch during the incident. The state has also offered to cover her medical expenses.
The admissions were made in the state’s defence to a civil action launched by the former Greens candidate in October.
State admits battery and false imprisonment
According to the court documents, New South Wales has admitted claims of battery and false imprisonment relating to Thomas’s arrest.
However, the state has denied separate allegations of malicious prosecution and malfeasance in public office.
The case stems from a pro-Palestine protest held at SEC Plating in Sydney in late June 2025. About 60 people attended the demonstration.
Thomas was arrested and charged alongside four other protesters.
Charges later dropped
Three months after the protest, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped all charges against Thomas and three of the other protesters.
The civil proceedings launched by Thomas are continuing.
The admissions contained in the state’s defence represent a significant development in the legal action, while the disputed allegations remain before the court.