"THIS IS an event that will bring disruption to the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of Sydneysiders with very little benefit to them." No, these weren't the words of anti-war activists - it was NSW deputy premier John Watkins.

"I would have much preferred if the invitation had been offered by Canberra and these world leaders were in our national capital, not here in Sydney," argued Watkins.

The NSW government is reacting in part to pressure from business, angry at the unilateral declaration of a public holiday on September 7, the first day of the APEC summit.

But Watkins, in his capacity at transport minister, is also aware of the massive disruption that APEC will cause for ordinary people trying to get around their city.

He was slammed during US Vice-President Dick Cheney's visit in February after the Harbour Bridge was closed for over an hour so Cheney could be escorted across it for tea and scones at John Howard's residence at Kirribilli. Ironically, the "traffic disruption" was the excuse Iemma government gave for banning anti-war protesters from marching in the streets.Watkins now argues that APEC will be "Dick Cheney multiplied by 50.

"APEC will provide nothing tangible to the good people of Sydney and business community of Sydney."