StWC initiated the 8 September protest of the 2007 APEC conference and visit of former US President George W. Bush in Sydney . Figures of protest attendees vary widely from 3 , 000 estimated by police to 10 , 000 estimated by protest organisers . The summit saw the biggest security operation the country had ever seen , which included 3 , 500 police and security guards and 1 , 500 Defence Force personnel . The then Prime Minister , John Howard and New South Wales Premier , Morris Iemma were criticised along with the police for what were seen as " heavy-handed " tactics , such as the arrest without bail of Greg McLeay , a 52-year-old accountant who accidentally strode too close to a motorcade while crossing the road with his 11-year-old son , the erection of a 2.8-metre-high security barrier for public restricted zones of the city , a $ 600 , 000 high-pressure water cannon bought especially for the protest and the removal of many police officers ' identification badges during the demonstration
2007 APEC conference
APEC Australia 2007
Stop the War Coalition (Australia)