Key Takeaways:
- The NSW police have extended a protest declaration preventing the authorization of public assemblies following the Bondi attack, but drastically reduced the area to allow Invasion Day marches through the CBD on 26 January to go ahead.
- The Greens are calling for more federal funding for shark mitigation measures after a spate of shark attacks across Sydney and NSW over the past 48 hours.
- The NSW police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, has reduced the area covered by the protest declaration to include locations from Darling Harbour through the north of the CBD, Oxford Street, and the eastern suburbs police area command.
- The Australian government has urged Australians in Iran to "leave and leave quickly" due to the current situation in the country.
- The royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion has formally commenced, with Virginia Bell as the commissioner.
Introduction to the Protest Declaration Extension
The NSW police have extended a protest declaration preventing the authorization of public assemblies following the Bondi attack, but drastically reduced the area to allow Invasion Day marches through the CBD on 26 January to go ahead. This decision was made to balance community safety and the right to protest. The protest declaration was initially made on Christmas Eve under new police powers rushed through parliament following last month’s terror attack. The extension of the declaration has been reduced to include locations from Darling Harbour through the north of the CBD, Oxford Street, and the eastern suburbs police area command.
The Reduced Area Covered by the Protest Declaration
The reduced area covered by the protest declaration includes Bondi Beach but excludes Hyde Park, a typical focus point of marches. NSW police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, stated that the decision was about "getting the balance right between community safety and a right to protest." The protest planned by the First Nations community on Australia Day will be managed through College Street and out of southern Sydney. Lanyon expressed satisfaction that this reduces the risk to the community, and on Australia Day, tens of thousands of community members are expected to come into the CBD.
The Greens’ Call for More Federal Action on Shark Mitigation
The Greens are calling for more federal funding for shark mitigation measures after a spate of shark attacks across Sydney and NSW over the past 48 hours. Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, the Greens spokesperson for health oceans, stated that the recent incidents have "ignited public discussion about what creates the perfect storm for shark encounters to spike, and how best to reduce risks to both ocean-goers and marine wildlife." The Greens believe that resorting to lethal shark mitigation measures, such as nets and drumlines, is a "lazy and ineffective approach."
The Situation in Iran and the Australian Government’s Advice
The Australian government has urged Australians in Iran to "leave and leave quickly" due to the current situation in the country. The deputy prime minister and defence minister, Richard Marles, stated that the government condemns the killing of Iranian protesters and that there are more than 200 sanctions in place against individuals and entities in Iran. The government will continue to work with the international community to put pressure on the Iranian regime in respect of its treatment of its own people and the way in which it engages with the world.
The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion
The royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion has formally commenced, with Virginia Bell as the commissioner. The royal commission will be an important opportunity for Australians, particularly Jewish Australians, to have their voices heard and to speak to their experiences. The government has established the Richardson review to examine Australia’s security and intelligence settings, which will now feed into the royal commission. The government is prepared to work with the NSW royal commission and has chosen Virginia Bell as the commissioner, who has begun her work and is wasting no time in operationalizing the royal commission.
The Politicization of the Bondi Attack
The opposition has been criticizing the prime minister for his response to the Bondi terror attack, accusing him of delaying action and using "bogus excuses" for not calling a royal commission sooner. The prime minister has apologized for the grief and pain the Jewish community has experienced but has stated that antisemitism did not start when his government was elected. The government has passed reforms to combat antisemitism, including criminalizing doxxing and setting up the special envoy to combat antisemitism. However, the opposition believes that the government has not done enough to address the issue of antisemitism and has called for a royal commission to investigate the matter further.
The Extension of the Protest Declaration and its Implications
The extension of the protest declaration has raised questions about the balance between community safety and the right to protest. The reduced area covered by the declaration has been welcomed by the First Nations community, who plan to hold a protest on Australia Day. However, the opposition has criticized the government for not doing enough to address the issue of antisemitism and has called for a royal commission to investigate the matter further. The government has stated that it is committed to combating antisemitism and has passed reforms to address the issue. The royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion will provide an opportunity for Australians to have their voices heard and to speak to their experiences.