Pro-Palestinian protests ‘unleashing forces in our community that are not being contained’, Minns says
Minns has been asked about the pro-Palestine protests and if he backs the opposition’s idea of making protesters pay police to hold them. He says:
I mean, my view about these protests has been that it is unleashing forces in our community that are not being contained. When you see people marching and showing violent, bloody images, images of death and destruction, it’s unleashing something in our community that the organisers of the protest can’t contain.
The truth of the matter is – we can’t risk another mass demonstration on that scale in New South Wales. The implications can be seen in my view on Sunday, not just on Sunday – the anti-Jewish, antisemitism graffiti and arson attacks in our community over the last two years.
He says he supports the idea, but it is unconstitutional.
I think it’s good that ideas are being pushed forward. I’m not going to act on that specific one today and there’s a reason for it. I got clear advice is that – is that it breaches the commonwealth constitution.
NSW premier Chris Minns speaks in Sydney on Friday. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAPShare
Updated at 20.40 EST
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Minns has just been asked about these new laws stifling protests. He says:
That’s not our intent, not designed to be targeted at a specific group, but I – I’m firmly of the view that when we get to the point where you see passions enlivened to the point that it can unleash violence in our community, we have to take action.
So it’s extraordinary, it’s under a terrorism designation. I know that people will oppose it. I know that people will say, “It’s a step too far.” I don’t think it is. I think right now, because of the combustible situation out there, if we did have mass protests with violent imagery and chants that we have seen, I think it would rip apart our community.
Updated at 20.44 EST
Chis Minns says pro-Palestinian marches would ‘sow division and hatred in our community’
Minns:
We made it clear there’s nothing we can do about a group of people meeting on a street corner, we can’t do it, other than the powers that’s in the front of a synagogue or a mosque or a church or a religious institution, it’s not possible to do that.
What we can do is stop the marches through the heart of the city to national landmarks which I think would sow division and hatred in our community.
Updated at 20.43 EST
Minns urges people not to ‘cower in the face of terrorism’
Asked if people should be worried about going out, Minns says it’s “a cliche” but not to let the terrorists win.
They want us to not live like Australians. So listen to official communication, but if you’re planning on going out on New Year’s Eve, I think you can show defiance to these terrorists by keep going with your plans and have fun with your family and friends and enjoy our beautiful weather.
I think you saw this morning at Bondi with that paddle-out that there are millions of Australians who are not going to cower in the face of terrorism and that’s a fantastic thing.
Updated at 20.42 EST
Minns says he feels a personal responsibility for the attack.
Yeah, I mean, of course I do. I take – I take a deep responsibility for what happened. The profound responsibility of any government is to protect its citizens and that’s not what happened on Sunday.
Updated at 20.41 EST
‘Extraordinary measures’ required in wake of Bondi shootings, Minns says
Minns has been asked about the pro-Palestine protest, which saw over 100,000 people walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. He says his views are well known, and he did not support that protest.
I understand that people have genuine concerns about issues that are happening around the world, have deep and passionate interests about human rights or issues in other jurisdictions, of course, they do. But my concern is Sydney right now …
We are in a situation at the moment where members of our community not only feel unsafe but as of Sunday were targeted because of their faith. So extraordinary measures are required to begin the process of re-establishing trust, not just with the Jewish community, but everybody who lives in New South Wales.
Updated at 20.41 EST
NSW counter-terrorism minister announces gun buyback scheme
The NSW minister for police and counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley, said there will be a buyback scheme for guns.
We are obviously working on that. It’s not been many days since our terrorist attack in Bondi. But I can give you an indication in Western Australia – they have put $63m aside for their buyback and they have 90,000 guns.
So that gives you – ours would probably be ballpark figure three or four times, perhaps more than that.
Updated at 20.35 EST
Minns has been asked about his 180 on gun control:
There is a very different world between where we are today and where we were before Sunday. We have to change. We all have to change. What we had done is not working.
The number one responsibility of any government is to protect its citizens and it’s a deep sense of responsibility that I feel that that didn’t happen on Sunday.
Updated at 20.33 EST
Pro-Palestinian protests ‘unleashing forces in our community that are not being contained’, Minns says
Minns has been asked about the pro-Palestine protests and if he backs the opposition’s idea of making protesters pay police to hold them. He says:
I mean, my view about these protests has been that it is unleashing forces in our community that are not being contained. When you see people marching and showing violent, bloody images, images of death and destruction, it’s unleashing something in our community that the organisers of the protest can’t contain.
The truth of the matter is – we can’t risk another mass demonstration on that scale in New South Wales. The implications can be seen in my view on Sunday, not just on Sunday – the anti-Jewish, antisemitism graffiti and arson attacks in our community over the last two years.
He says he supports the idea, but it is unconstitutional.
I think it’s good that ideas are being pushed forward. I’m not going to act on that specific one today and there’s a reason for it. I got clear advice is that – is that it breaches the commonwealth constitution.
NSW premier Chris Minns speaks in Sydney on Friday. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAPShare
Updated at 20.40 EST
NSW gathering laws ‘based on public safety alone’
Daley says the minister for police will be able to declare no gatherings where they fear that a public assembly is likely to cause a reasonable person to fear harassment, intimidation or violence.
They could be made for 14 days periods and they can be extended and the areas can be amended as well.
As I say, it’s not to show any one group out or to tell them to stay at home. This is based on public safety and public safety alone.
Updated at 20.31 EST
New public assembly laws ‘unprecedented’, says NSW attorney general
The attorney general of New South Wales, Michael Daley, is speaking now. He says the new laws around public assemblies are “unprecedented”.
I just want to make it clear, we don’t have the power, the government doesn’t have the power, to declare the streets of New South Wales or any parts of them a no-go zone. We don’t have the power to do that.
The premier has said very clearly that he wants – we all agree – that this summer to be a summer of heal, not of protest and not of division.
These laws apply all over New South Wales. It will enable the police commissioner or deputy commissioner in concurrence with the minister to declare an area one where no form ones can be approved – that means there’ll be no authorised public assemblies. So they’re not targeted importantly at any person, any group, any individual, any ideology, any community – they are based purely on public safety.
Updated at 20.29 EST
Minns says the Islamic State flag will also be banned.
The New South Wales government will also introduce legislation to ban ISIS flags in New South Wales to ensure that they’re not used as part of a demented terrorist organisation propaganda.
These are extraordinary measures. I want to make it clear they’re not the end of the measures.
Updated at 20.26 EST
NSW to have ‘toughest gun laws in the country’, Minns says
Secondly, Minns says they will reform gun laws – introducing the toughest gun laws in the country.
The government will introduce a bill to impose a cap of four firearms per individual with strict exemptions for primary producers and sporting shooters.
[We] will reclassify straight, pull, pump-action, button, lever release firearms into category C – limiting their access primarily to farmers, agriculture, primary producers.
We’ll reduce magazine capacities for category A and B firearms to a maximum of five to 10 rounds from the current unlimited capacity.
We’ll introduce a complete ban on firearms that can use belt-fed magazines and we will remove the New South Wales civil and administrative tribunal review pathway once a designation has been made that the licence should be taken.
Updated at 20.26 EST
Minns on new gathering laws:
These are important changes, but they’re necessary. We believe to live up to the number one priority of any government in office – the number one priority for any political leader, any government or any parliament, and that is to protect its citizens.
Updated at 20.27 EST
Minns says no court will be able to overrule the decision to ban public gatherings:
No public assemblies in a designated area will be able to be authorised including by a court. Police will have access to existing powers to move people on where their behaviour presents or causes harassment or intimidation or obstructs traffic.
Now, just to give you the specifics of it – a declaration must be called within 14 days of a terrorism designation being reached under the Police Powers Act.
It will then be in order for 14 days, but can be extended for a further 14 days up to a period of three months. This is obviously extraordinary powers, not seen before in any jurisdiction in the country.
Updated at 20.27 EST
Public gatherings to be restricted during high-risk periods, NSW premier says
Minns says there will be a series of reforms introduced to the New South Wales parliament on Monday, including restricting public gatherings during high-risk times.
Firstly, the government will act to ensure that we restrict the authorisation of public assemblies during high-risk times like when there is a terrorist event in New South Wales.
When a terrorist incident is formally declared under the Terrorism Police Powers Act, the police commissioner or deputy commissioner of police with the agreement of the minister for police will be able to declare a specific area where the public assemblies are restricted for a period of time.
Updated at 20.24 EST
‘Massive’ memorial for victims of Hanukah attack to be held in the future, Minns says
Minns says there will be a “massive” memorial in the future, which the government is talking to the Jewish community about.
The truth of the matter is that we want as many people there as possible including those who are currently in hospital or caring for loved ones or are in the process of burying loved ones and we want them to be part – or have the opportunity to be a partner of this memorial.
So that’s going to take a number of weeks. It won’t be held before Christmas.
Updated at 20.22 EST
Buildings to be lit in yellow on Sunday evening, NSW premier says
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, is up now. He said:
Obviously as a result of the devastating events of Sunday, the New South Wales government having worked with the Jewish community of this state has designated that Sunday will be a day of national reflection to honour the victims of the terrorist attack at Bondi beach and also to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community of our country.
So on Sunday, flags on Australian and New South Wales government buildings will be flown at half-mast as a mark of respect for the lives lost and the shared sense of grief right across the country. Buildings will be lit up in yellow for the evening, and lights will beam from the sky from Bondi Pavilion.
The government will help members to hold a memorial event and a shared candle image will be used on social media. It’s a day of reflection and a pause for the terrible events and the shocking crimes that occurred last Sunday.
Updated at 20.21 EST
Lanyon has been asked about one of the Bondi gunmen purchasing three shotguns within a few months. He said:
Because they were appropriate to be held by the licence class that he had. Absolutely the firearms registry would have been aware because someone has to apply for a permit to acquire before they acquire a shotgun.
Updated at 20.19 EST
Lanyon:
I have been clear we will monitor these men whilst they’re in New South Wales. And we will work closely with Victorian and other commonwealth law enforcement partners.
Updated at 20.12 EST