Almost 30 people were arrested in Sydney yesterday as protesters demonstrated against the Israeli President's visit to the city - in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside Sydney Town Hall as part of nationwide protests.

Police are today facing allegations of using aggressive tactics, following the release of footage appearing to show police punching a person present at the rally, multiple times. 

NSW Labor MLC, Stephen Lawrence, says "I've been warning in Parliament for the last three years that we are heading towards a repeat of the 1978 Mardi Gras ... the progression of law reform in recent years has very much been back to the regime that was in existence in 1978".      

• GUEST: Stephen Lawrence, Labor Member of the NSW Legislative Council