Former M’sia AG Tommy Thomas’ Daughter Injured in Sydney Pro-Palestine March

Arrest at Pro-Palestinian Protest Sparks Concern

On 21 June, Hannah Thomas, daughter of former Malaysian attorney-general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, sustained serious facial injuries during her arrest at a pro-Palestinian protest in Belmore, Sydney.

Authorities later charged the 35-year-old, who ran as an Australian Greens candidate in the May 2025 federal election, with resisting police and refusing to comply with dispersal orders.

Thomas had joined demonstrators outside SEC Plating, a company accused of allegedly supplying components for military use in Israel. Protesters gathered around 5:30 a.m. on 21 June to block access to the facility.

Screengrab of YouTube Video Depicting Police using Force on Protesters at Protest

Police deemed the demonstration unauthorised, citing failure to submit required notice under New South Wales protest laws.

Facial Injury Raises Risk of Vision Loss

Officers allegedly struck Thomas in the face while removing her during the arrest. Online footage and images show her right eye severely swollen and bruised.

Paramedics transported her to Bankstown Hospital, where doctors are monitoring her condition and assessing the risk of permanent vision loss, according to her legal team and local Greens officials.

Police have not classified the incident as a ‘critical incident’ but confirmed it remains under review. Authorities have not filed any charges against the officers involved.

Charges and Court Appearance

Thomas received a Future Court Attendance Notice from New South Wales police on 30 June, accusing her of resisting or obstructing officers and disobeying a dispersal order. She will appear in Bankstown Local Court on 12 August. Police also arrested and charged four other protesters in connection with the demonstration, granting all of them conditional bail.

New South Wales police said they routinely review use-of-force incidents, but this case has not met the threshold for a formal misconduct investigation.

Political Background and Public Response

Thomas, who moved to Australia in 2009 as an international student, previously contested the seat of Grayndler—held by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese—as a Greens candidate. Her campaign focused on Palestine solidarity, climate action, and immigration reform.

Photo Courtesy of Hannah Thomas Instagram @/hannah4grayndler

Following the incident, she posted a video from hospital, thanking supporters and saying she was still recovering from the events.

An independent investigation of the police reaction has been demanded by state and federal Greens representatives, including NSW Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council Sue Higginson. They argue the event highlights growing concerns over Australia’s anti-protest legislation and the policing of peaceful demonstrations.

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NSTTV Hannah Thomas, daughter of former Attorney-General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, has said her injury during a pro-Palestinian protest in Sydney was minor compared to the suffering faced by Palestinians in Gaza.

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