The former Greens candidate who is at risk of losing vision in her right eye after suffering facial injuries at an anti-Israel rally has undergone surgery.
Hannah Thomas, who challenged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the seat of Grayndler at the last election, is in a stable condition in hospital after Saturday’s procedure.
On Friday, in south-west Sydney, she and about 50 others were protesting outside Lakemba business, SEC Plating, which the Greens have accused of supplying materials used by the Israeli military.
The NSW Greens claimed the business was involved in the supply chain to make Israeli fighter jets.
Police issued a move-on direction to the group at about 5.35am on Friday to disrupt the alleged unauthorised protest.
Ms Thomas allegedly refused to comply with the order and sustained facial injuries when she was arrested before being taken to Bankstown Hospital for treatment.
A new photo of Ms Thomas on Saturday showed the severity of her injuries, with her entire right eye closed, swollen and bloody, while she sat in the back of an ambulance.
The right side of her face was also covered in blood while her eye was black.
NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson wrote to NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and Police Minister Yasmin Catley to complain about the actions of the officers at the rally.
‘I am writing to you to express my deep concern that no critical incident has been declared following the (alleged) assault by NSW Police against a community member at a public assembly in Belmore,’ Ms Higginson wrote.
‘As you know, a critical incident is an incident involving a NSW police officer that results in the death or serious injury of a person.
‘Having witnessed the grievous injuries (allegedly) caused by the police to Hannah Thomas, spoken to on ground witnesses who witnessed what occurred and with the knowledge that Hannah has experienced serious injuries and hospitalisation, I am calling for a critical incident to be declared urgently.’
Four others were arrested and charged during the protest, including a 24-year-old man who was allegedly found in possession of a stolen police body-worn camera.
Police said the camera was stolen by an unknown protester during a scuffle and was tracked to the 24-year-old’s location.
It is not clear exactly what caused Ms Thomas’ injuries but doctors are reportedly fearing she may not regain sight in her right eye.
The Greens meanwhile have said they have spoken with lawyers to potentially represent Ms Thomas and the other protesters who were arrested during the incident.
Ms Thomas has attended anti-Israel protests in the past, having called on to impose sanctions on Israel, whose government she accused of genocide.
She was among dozens of demonstrators who descended on Albanese’s electorate office to demand action after Greta Thunberg’s ‘Freedom Flotilla’ was seized by Israeli defence forces earlier this month.
A spokesperson for NSW Police told Daily Mail Ms Thomas had not been charged following the incident.
‘She sustained facial injuries while being arrested for allegedly failing to comply with a police direction and the arrest was discontinued and (she) was taken to Bankstown hospital for treatment,’ they said.