Key Takeaways
- Public assemblies have been banned for two weeks across Sydney after the NSW Police Commissioner activated powers prescribed after the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.
- Reforms to the state’s laws on gun ownership and public assemblies were passed by parliament in response to the mass shooting on December 14 that left 15 people dead.
- The new laws give the Commissioner the power to temporarily designate public areas as "restricted" from assemblies following a declared terrorist incident.
- The ban on public assemblies is intended to prevent the aggravation of fear and divisiveness in the community.
- The community at Bondi Beach is coming together to show respect and courtesy, with events like the annual community Christmas lunch at Bondi Surf Club.
Introduction to the Ban on Public Assemblies
The NSW Police Commissioner has activated powers to ban public assemblies for two weeks across Sydney, following the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. This move comes after reforms to the state’s laws on gun ownership and public assemblies were passed by parliament in response to the mass shooting on December 14 that left 15 people dead. The new laws give the Commissioner the power to temporarily designate public areas as "restricted" from assemblies following a declared terrorist incident. This means that any gathering in the South West Metropolitan, North West Metropolitan, and Central Metropolitan policing areas will be considered "unauthorised" and participants will not have the protection of the Summary Offences Act.
Reasoning Behind the Ban
In a statement, Commissioner Mal Layon said that any protest action at this time would "aggravate fear and divisiveness in the community". He emphasized that the NSW Police is committed to exercising these new powers responsibly and transparently. The Commissioner believes that this is a time for the community to come together and show respect and courtesy, rather than engaging in large public assemblies and division. The declaration can be extended fortnightly for up to three months, and any event approved prior to the declaration will now be "taken to be revoked".
Community Response to the Ban
Despite the ban on public assemblies, the community at Bondi Beach is still coming together to show respect and courtesy. The annual community Christmas lunch at Bondi Surf Club, which was started six years ago by long-term life saver Sebastian Cassie, is still going ahead. The event, which serves the area’s rough sleepers, has an added significance this year, as the community is still reeling from the terrorist attack. Mr. Cassie said that the community is hurting, but the event is more important now than ever, as it brings people together and shows that the community will not be divided by the tragedy.
The Importance of Community Events
The community Christmas lunch at Bondi Surf Club is just one example of how the community is coming together to heal and support each other. The event is expected to attract up to 300 people, and is seen as a way of acting on the message that "no-one should spend Christmas alone or hungry". Mr. Cassie said that he has been fielding questions from the community, wondering if the event was still going ahead, and that the community needs to come together to show that they will not be defeated by the tragedy. The event is also seen as a way of shining a bright light on the community’s resilience and strength, and to show that the tragedy will not define them.
A Subdued Christmas Morning at Bondi Beach
This morning, Bondi Beach was subdued, with fewer people than usual attending the traditional Christmas morning gathering. A beachgoer who has been going to Bondi Beach on Christmas morning for nearly 40 years acknowledged that the tragic events could be playing a part in the low attendance. The weather, with possible showers forecast and temperatures in the mid-20s, also contributed to keeping attendance low. However, a local told the ABC that she could feel a greater sense of community, as people who normally walk at the beach were supporting each other. A family from England, spending their first Christmas in Australia, said they were expecting to see more people at Bondi Beach, but were still enjoying the experience. Two friends also at Bondi Beach for the first time blamed the "disappointing" weather, but said that it was still a special experience to be at the iconic beach on Christmas Day.
