Queensland Police Offer Full Protection for Free Speech Summit Amid Foreign Interference and Venue Cancellation Orchestrated by Israel Lobby
By Jamie McIntyre
Gold Coast, Australia – July 16, 2025 — As international controversy swirls around foreign interference in Australia’s domestic affairs, the Queensland Police Service has stepped in to offer full protection and security for the upcoming Free Speech Summit, set to take place July 19th and 20th on the Gold Coast.
The move follows a series of escalating disruptions triggered by Israeli lobbyists and activists, who successfully pressured The Star Casino—the original venue for the summit—to cancel just days before the event, despite over 2,000 tickets sold and 20+ speakers confirmed, some of whom were flying in from the U.S. and Europe.
Queensland Police Stand Up for Public Safety and Free Speech
In a remarkable show of professionalism and neutrality, Queensland Police proactively contacted the event organisers, including independent media broadcaster http://ANR.News, to assure them that full support and venue protection will be provided to prevent any troublemakers or politically motivated agitators from disrupting the event.
“We appreciate the support of Queensland Police in helping us proceed with the event safely, especially in light of the disturbing and growing foreign interference we’ve experienced,” said Jamie McIntyre, founder of the Australian National Review and co-host of the summit.
This reassurance came as a relief to the summit team, who had just secured a new venue after the Star Casino abruptly pulled out following a relentless pressure campaign by Israeli lobbyists to derail the event entirely.
Why Is Israel So Desperate to Shut This Down?
The Free Speech Summit has faced a targeted and sustained attack, with Israel and its affiliated pressure groups reportedly lobbying not only to cancel the venue, but also to interfere with Australian immigration processes to revoke visas of American speakers just hours before their flights. Among those banned were influencers and journalists who have previously criticised Israeli government policies.
Critics are asking: Why is Israel so fearful of an open discussion taking place halfway across the world?
Even more disturbing, Israel’s interference isn’t limited to politics or diplomacy—it appears to be weaponizing narratives of antisemitism by allegedly hiring radical extremists on both sides of the political spectrum to create drama, protest, or chaos at such events. These actions are then used to paint legitimate criticism of Israel’s policies as hate speech, while ignoring the very policies sparking the criticism—namely, the ongoing bombardment and killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, including women and children.
The hypocrisy has not gone unnoticed. As one commentator put it:
“It’s not antisemitic to condemn the murder of innocent people. What we’re seeing is a desperate attempt to deflect from war crimes by silencing critics worldwide.”
Australia’s Sovereignty & Democracy in Question
Australians from all sides of the political spectrum are now alarmed at how a foreign government—Israel—can wield such influence as to:
• Cancel a major venue for a private, ticketed event
• Pressure the Australian government to ban American citizens from entering the country to speak
• Create enough fear & disruption that local law enforcement must be deployed to protect Australian citizens exercising free speech on Australian soil
What does it say about Australia’s sovereignty when a foreign lobby group can dictate who can speak & where in a supposedly free and democratic nation?
The Summit Will Go Ahead — Louder Than Ever
Despite the obstacles, the Free Speech Summit is going ahead, thanks to the resilience of the organisers and the support of the Queensland Police, who have committed to protecting attendees and ensuring public safety.
