Sunday will mark a day of reflection to honour the 15 victims of last week’s terror attack in Bondi as Premier Chris Minns urges those planning to attend a Sydney anti-immigration rally promoted by One Nation’s Barnaby Joyce to stay away.
Joyce urged his supporters to join the rally in central Sydney that calls for the government to be “sacked” despite pleas from the premier for a summer of calm.
Barnaby Joyce and Pauline Hanson at the memorial for the victims at Bondi earlier this week.Credit: Janie Barrett
“Don’t do it. Don’t go ahead with it right now – people are burying their dead,” Minns told Nine’s Today program on Sunday.
“They’re coming together as a community, the Jewish community – coming together to mourn the loss of so many people in their family.”
Minns will introduce new legislation on Monday to ban large protests in the wake of a terror attack.
The premier told organisers to expect a massive police presence if any protests do go ahead, and warned that since no formal application for mass gatherings had been received, any protesters who step onto the roads to block traffic will be breaking the law.
An Israeli flag furled on the boardwalk railing at Bondi Beach.Credit: Getty
Police on Friday said in a statement “this is not a time for large gatherings that may heighten tension” and that they were aware of unauthorised gatherings promoted on social media for the weekend.
Fifteen people were killed and dozens injured a week ago when gunmen Naveed Akram, 24, and his father, Sajid, 50, opened fire with long-arm rifles on a gathering of Jewish people at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach.
A patient wounded in the attack worsened from a critical but stable condition to critical overnight at St Vincent’s Hospital.
Three of the 12 other patients still in hospitals across Sydney are critical but stable, meaning their injuries are life-threatening but not expected to quickly deteriorate.
Australians have been invited to light a candle at 6.47pm on Sunday and observe a minute’s silence to mark a week since the attack unfolded.
“The National Day of Reflection will be observed on the final day of Chanukah, a time traditionally associated with light, faith and resilience, making the loss felt by the Jewish community even more profound,” the prime minister’s department said in a statement.
Flags on Sunday will fly at half-mast, buildings will be lit in yellow, and lights will beam into the sky from Bondi Pavilion.
The premier has said NSW will hold a state-led royal commission into the attack.
“We need to have an independent investigation,” Minns said on Sunrise on Sunday.
“I’ve got bits and pieces of the jigsaw puzzle. We know parts of why this occurred on Sunday, but until we have the full picture, and I can explain that to the people of NSW, well, our job’s not done.”
He said the terms of reference for the royal commission have not yet been drafted.
“I’m not going to draft them until I speak to leaders of the Jewish community who’ve been burying their dead this week.”
Bondi Beach incident helplines:
- Bondi Beach Victim Services on 1800 411 822
- Bondi Beach Public Information & Enquiry Centre on 1800 227 228
- NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 or Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or chat online at kidshelpline.com.au
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