NSW government to restrict public assemblies after terror attack
The New South Wales Government is set to impose restrictions on public assemblies in designated areas following a recent terrorist attack aimed at safeguarding the community, reducing intimidation, and allowing police to concentrate on public safety.
Chris Minns and Kellie Sloane visit the site Photo: Bianci di Marchi/AAP
The move comes in the wake of last week’s terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, resulting in the deaths of 15 innocent individuals. This initiative builds on existing powers under the NSW counter-terrorism laws.
Under the Terrorism (Police Powers) Act 2002, when a terrorist incident is officially declared, the Police Commissioner or Deputy Police Commissioner, with the Minister for Police’s consent, can issue a Public Assembly Restriction Declaration. This allows for the temporary prohibition of public gatherings in specific areas.
The intention behind these powers is to protect community members from intimidation and fear, thereby minimizing risks to public safety following an attack. Restrictions will be enforced in areas where police assess that public gatherings could lead to reasonable fears of harassment, intimidation, or violence.
Key points of the declaration include:
- Public assemblies in the designated zones will be prohibited, including those authorised by courts.
- Police will have the authority to disperse individuals whose behaviour causes harassment, intimidation, or obstructs traffic.
- The community will receive a clear message that public gatherings in the specified areas are unsafe.
These measures are specifically targeted, lasting for 14 days, with the possibility of extensions for up to three months.
Significantly, the restrictions will not hinder quiet reflection, prayer, or peaceful gatherings that do not pose safety concerns. They also do not affect industrial actions.
Strengthening Action Against Hate
These new measures complement a range of existing laws introduced by the NSW Government to combat rising hate and antisemitism, including:
- A new offence for inciting racial hatred.
- Enhanced protections for places of worship, with increased penalties and police powers.
- Legislation banning the public display of Nazi symbols near synagogues and Jewish institutions.
The Government plans to collaborate with police, community leaders, and legal experts to ensure that these reforms are effective and lawful.
Premier Chris Minns stated: “This was a targeted terrorist attack that has shaken our state and devastated the Jewish community. The scale of harm necessitates a decisive and sustained response.
“Our primary duty as a government is to protect our citizens.
“There is a time for debate and protest in a democracy, but also a time for calm and unity. After an act of terror, public safety must take precedence.
“These reforms aim to protect people during a time of vulnerability. They seek to ensure that grief is honoured, fear is not manipulated, and police can prioritise community safety.
“These powers are proportionate and focused on preventing intimidation and violence, not suppressing views.”
Attorney General Michael Daley added: “We are protecting social cohesion by limiting public assemblies which risk inflaming community tensions following a terrorist attack.
There are clear risks associated with large gatherings after the awful events at Bondi, and we do not want police resources unnecessarily diverted from the investigation to manage public assemblies.
This is a targeted, time-limited measure which will give NSW Police the tools they need to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the community.”
President of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, David Ossip, commented: “These are measured changes that do the obvious and decent thing, protect grieving community members from at best ignorant activists and at worst bad actors seeking to provoke conflict in the wake of a terror attack.
Chris Minns has been constant in his support of the Jewish community in Sydney. Unfortunately, he was pretty much alone in this situation and could not do better prior to this horrific massacre. Now, others are coming on board.
It doesn’t look like Victoria’s Premier, Jacinta Allan, is going to follow suit in regard to restricting or banning ugly marches or demos in the same way; in fact, Victoria is the only State in which you don’t even have to apply for a permit for these.
As with Schools Crossing, authorities don’t move until someone dies… but here they had plenty of warnings and forthcoming signs