The NSW Government has admitted one of its police officers battered former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas during a pro-Palestine protest.

Thomas' eye was struck by a police officer holding a police torch during a demonstration in Belmore, south-west Sydney, in June last year.

The ex-candidate, aged 35, brought a civil claim against the state government after she was hospitalised and underwent several surgeries for her injury.

She claims she has permanent vision impairment from the assault. 

An officer was charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm over the incident and all charges against Thomas were dropped.

Court documents, seen by the ABC, showed the government admitted Thomas suffered 'harm and damage' when the officer punched her in the eye, while holding a police torch.

'The State admits the first and third use of force constituted a battery,' the government's written defence read.

The state lawyers also agreed with the following statement, that was written by Thomas' lawyers: '[The officer] punched the Plaintiff's right eye with his right hand, causing the Plaintiff to scream, as well as causing immediate bleeding and swelling.

'At the time of the punch, [the officer] was holding a police torch in his right hand.'

Thomas was initially charged with hinder or resist police in execution of duty and two counts of refusing to comply with a direction to disperse. 

Those charges were withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions last year and she was awarded legal costs. 

Thomas' lawyers instead accused the government of falsely imprisoning her. 

'The Plaintiff's arrest was unlawful as immediately prior to and at the time of the Plaintiff's apprehension,' her lawyers wrote.

'The apprehending officers had no reasonable grounds to suspect that the Plaintiff was committing or had committed an offence.'

The government agreed with the statement.

Lawyers also conceded Thomas will be entitled to damages and offered to pay her 'reasonable' medical expenses.

However, the government denied it breached its duty by pursuing charges against her. 

NSW Police is unable to comment as the matter is before the court.

The officer had hit Thomas during a protest outside SEC Plating on June 27, 2025.

Demonstrators claimed the company was providing jet components to Israel, which would be used against Palestinians.

SEC Plating denied the claims.

Police had issued a move-on order from the protest and charged Thomas alongside four other protesters.

Of the five charged, four had all their charges dropped.