Sydneysiders are being warned to expect heavily armed police on New Year’s Eve as the premier foreshadows a strong security response to the Bondi terror attack.
Two weeks on from the anti-Semitic attack which left 15 people dead, NSW Premier Chris Minns is calling on residents to still come out in droves to support local businesses and celebrate the new year.
“Because of the weird ideology of some of these terrorists, what they want is for us to crawl up into a ball and not have fun with our family and friends during this Christmas period,” he told reporters in Bondi on Sunday after visiting a local cafe.
“So I’m calling on the people of Sydney to step out, to do what you would ordinarily do, to thumb your nose at the terrorists.”
Police will carry long arm firearms on New Year’s Eve as the city goes ahead with its traditional fireworks display.
“That will be confronting for some people,” Mr Minns said.
“I have spoken to a lot of parents, and they would feel far more comfortable if there was a major police presence. And that includes with the firepower that’s required to confront some evil terrorists on a bridge in Bondi, if those circumstances were to repeat.”
There were similar calls for people to celebrate the new year in Queensland where authorities say there is no intelligence to suggest an increased risk level.
“We hope people, as always, on New Year’s Eve enjoy themselves, and our police will be out in force making sure people are as safe as they possibly can,” Police Minister Dan Purdie said.
Mr Minns revealed discussions were being had about potentially deploying the army to protect Jewish institutions, but said he didn’t want to front-run details.
“There’s a big challenge ahead of us to rebuild Jewish life in Sydney so I’m not going to take anything off the table,” he said.
He also flagged potentially arming the Community Security Group, which is operated by volunteers and support staff, to provide a visible presence at synagogues, Jewish events and institutions.
Winds and intermittent rain weren’t enough to keep some away from Bondi on Sunday although the beach was less busy than a usual Sydney summer day.
There was also a larger police presence, while small memorials and flowers remain along the bridge the shooters used for the attack and the park where the people were killed.
At the steps of the bridge, members of the Jewish community were also offering tefillin, where a pair of small black leather boxes and straps containing Torah verses are wrapped around the person as they recite a prayer.
The NSW government has introduced a slate of new measures following the terrorist attack, including a crackdown on hate speech and firearm restrictions.
A ban on certain forms of protests after declared terrorist incidents has been deployed for the first time, restricting public assemblies in parts of Sydney for 14 days.
Mr Minns said he would have more to say on a possible extension of the designation, which can be in place for up to three months.
He rejected criticism from former Supreme Court judge Anthony Whealy who said it risked worsening anti-Semitism because protests provided a pressure valve for people opposed to Israel’s war in Gaza.
“I think what it actually does is it adds to the slippery slope of inflammatory rhetoric that ends up scaling up the more it occurs,” the premier said.
Pro-Palestinian marchers have categorically rejected any support for anti-Semitism and maintain they are protesting against human rights abuses in Gaza and for Palestinian self-determination.
Mr Minns also vowed to stamp out hate preachers, saying their previous conduct would be looked at.
“There’s no statute of limitations on being a racist and an anti-Semite and if you preach that kind of hatred in our community, then you can expect to be confronted,” he said.
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