Police Commissioner restricts protests for two weeks after Bondi attack
NSW Premier Chris Minns has defended the police commissioner’s sudden decision to restrict public gatherings and protests in Sydney for two weeks following the Bondi shooting, saying he could not risk a situation where “mass protests would tear apart our social cohesion”.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon made a declaration late on Wednesday banning public gatherings and protests in Sydney’s central, north-west and south-west police districts for 14 days, with the potential to extend the ban for up to three months.
Prime Minister Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a Christmas dinner hosted by the Rev Bill Crews Foundation.Credit: AAP
During this period, applications for organizing protests will not be accepted and protests will be considered unauthorized.
Speaking on Thursday, Minns said he was “grateful” and “100 percent supportive” of Lanyon’s decision.
“I know they are extraordinary forces. We believe they are absolutely necessary to maintain order and peace this Christmas season and the opening days of summer,” he said.
“We cannot be facing a situation right now where mass protests are tearing apart our social cohesion. We have an obligation right now to bring people together, and this is the right call.”
The decision comes as part of sweeping new laws tightening gun ownership and restrictions on protests that were passed by the NSW parliament around 3am on Wednesday.
Premier Chris Minns and Summer Hill MP Jo Haylen are hosting a Christmas Day dinner. Credit: AAP
The legislation in the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 has three key elements: Creating an offense for the display of symbols of terrorism, such as the ISIS flag; significant restrictions on firearm possession; and allowing the police commissioner to prevent protests for up to three months after a terrorist incident.
