Hannah Thomas was among five people arrested while protesting Israel's war in Gaza on Friday outside an Australian firm reportedly linked to the manufacturing of components for fighter jets used by the Israeli Defence Force.
NSW Police are now facing questions over their actions after Ms Thomas said their intervention could result in permanent vision loss in her right eye.
"I'm five-foot-one, I weigh about 45kg, I was engaged in peaceful protest," the 35-year-old said in a social media post from her hospital bed.
"I'm in this position because people like (NSW Premier) Chris Minns and (Police Minister) Yasmin Catley have demonised protesters and passed draconian anti-protest laws which license police to crack down on peaceful protest in extremely violent, brutal ways."
While expressing sympathy for Ms Thomas, Mr Minns refused to criticise police conduct until further information comes to light, adding that enforcing the law while allowing freedom of political expression was a delicate balance.
"From the police's perspective, I'm certainly not prepared to condemn them in these circumstances when we haven't gotten to the bottom of the situation," he told reporters on Monday.
"You're entitled to protest, but businesses in NSW are entitled to run their companies as well."
The protesters accused SEC Plating, in southwest Sydney, of making parts for F-35 jets used by Israel, a claim the firm denies.
Mr Minns denied controversial protest laws passed in February were used by police to move on the demonstrators on Friday morning, as claimed by Greens MPs, or that the laws had emboldened the police force when it came to managing demonstrations.
NSW Police said the protest at SEC Plating was unauthorised and blocked access to the Belmore business.
It defended the lack of an investigation into police actions at the protest, saying officers had tried at least four times to get further information from Ms Thomas without success.
"I am comfortable based on the information provided to me that I did not declare the matter a critical incident," Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden told Sydney radio 2GB on Monday.
Ms Thomas, who ran second to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the inner west Sydney seat of Grayndler in May's federal election, was charged on Sunday with hinder or resist police and refuse/fail to comply with directions to disperse.
A video of the incident showed police dragging one of the protesters as onlookers repeatedly shouted "get off her" and "let go of her".
NSW Police said "a scuffle ensued between police and protesters" during attempts to arrest the protesters for not complying with move-on directions.
Ms Thomas is set to appear at Bankstown Local Court in August.
Footage of Ms Thomas circulating online showed her eye swollen shut and with blood on her face before she was taken to hospital.
NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson labelled the policing "excessive" and has written to Ms Catley, the NSW police commissioner and the state's police watchdog demanding an investigation.
Protest organisers say another protester was grabbed by the neck and choked, while others were knocked to the ground.
Mr Minns said the lack of a critical incident declaration would not stop the police watchdog from stepping in if it saw fit.
All five protesters arrested during the scuffle were granted bail, and four will appear in Bankstown Local Court on July 15.
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