Chris Minns Urges Calm as Sydney Rallies Stir Tension After Bondi Tragedy
Right now, Sydney is sitting in a very delicate moment, and that was made clear by NSW Premier Chris Minns as he publicly urged people to stay away from a controversial anti-immigration rally following the devastating Bondi terror attack. The timing could not be more sensitive. Only a week has passed since 15 people were killed during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, and communities across the state are still grieving, reflecting, and trying to process what happened.
Sunday was marked as a National Day of Reflection, a moment set aside to honour the victims and support the Jewish community, who were hit hardest by the attack. Candles were lit, flags were lowered to half-mast, and a minute’s silence was observed at exactly 6.47pm, the time the violence unfolded. Against this backdrop of mourning, the planned rally promoted by former Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce, now aligned with One Nation, was seen by state leaders as deeply provocative.
Chris Minns was very clear in his message. He repeatedly asked people not to attend, saying this was simply not the time for political gatherings that could inflame emotions. He pointed out that families were still burying their loved ones and communities were coming together to grieve, not to argue or protest. According to Minns, any action that risked escalating tensions in an already fragile situation should be avoided.
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NSW Police also opposed the rally. Although organisers applied for formal approval, the request was rejected, and negotiations failed. It was confirmed that without authorisation, the gathering was not legally protected, meaning anyone who attended could face charges related to unlawful assembly or obstruction. Police warned that a significant presence would be deployed to monitor any large public gatherings, stressing that public safety had to come first.
Despite these warnings, hundreds still turned up in Sydney’s Surry Hills, carrying Australian flags and listening to speeches calling for tougher immigration measures. Joyce insisted it was a “meeting,” not a rally, but authorities remained firm in their stance that the event posed risks during a period of heightened tension.
In response to these events, Minns announced plans to introduce new legislation that would allow protests to be temporarily banned following terrorist attacks. These powers, described as extraordinary and unprecedented in Australia, would give police the ability to restrict public assemblies across designated areas to prevent further unrest.
At the same time, Minns confirmed that a state-led royal commission into the Bondi attack would be established. He said an independent investigation was needed to fully understand how and why the attack occurred, but stressed that consultation with Jewish community leaders would come first, out of respect for those still grieving.
For now, the premier’s message remains simple and firm: this is a time for unity, compassion, and calm, not division.
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