Bondi Beach shooting: Live updates as first funerals for victims begin, new details emerge on Sajid Akram
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Message of unity at BBL cricket match
Hours after several funerals for the victims of the Bondi terror attack were held, the Sydney Sixers and Adelaide Strikers held a moment’s silence before their BBL cricket match at the SCG.
Amid heightened security, and only a few suburbs away from where the massacre took place on Sunday, the teams stood shoulder to shoulder as the big screen simply read: “We stand together with all Australians.”
Man accused of Bondi Beach terror attack charged with 59 offences
Naveed Akram, the man accused of joining with his father to unleash a terror attack on members of the Jewish community at Bondi Beach, has been charged with 59 offences.
The 25-year-old, who is under police guard, woke from a coma on Tuesday after being shot by police.
He is expected to appear in a bedside court hearing on Wednesday on 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder, and charges of committing a terrorist act and wounding with intent to murder.
Leeser echoes concerns that Albanese has been missing in action
Liberal MP Julian Leeser echoes Opposition leader Sussan Ley’s concerns that Anthony Albanese has been missing in action in the wake of Bondi’s horrific mass shooting.
“Sussan Ley and I have been here every day, walking among ordinary Jewish Australians and hearing their anger,” he said.
“It’s only when you hear the anger, it’s only when you hear the tears of grown men at a funeral, it’s only when you understand the enormity of a 10 year old child massacred at this place, that you will feel the need to take action.
“I beg the Prime Minister, the time for action is now.”
Wong praises Philippines cooperation, ducks questions on intelligence failures
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has thanked the Philippines for its cooperation as Australian authorities continue to investigate the actions of the Bondi terrorists before Sunday’s massacre.
Philippine authorities have confirmed Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid Akram, 50, travelled to the South-East Asian nation which is known as a extremism hotspot.
Senator Wong has told ABC TV she is working closely with her Filipino counterpart.
“We have had a long history of security collaboration between Australia and the Filipino government, and we will continue to do that. We’re very appreciative of all of the engagement from the government and also their agencies.”
Asked whether there was a failure of intelligence and security services, given the pair were able to travel to a terrorist training region and return home, she declined to say.
“We need the police investigation, which is obviously led by New South Wales, but is a joint terror investigation, given that this is a terrorist event, we need those investigations to be finalised”.
New Year’s Eve events cancelled in Bondi after attack
Waverly Council has announced the cancellation of New Year’s Eve events at Bondi after Sunday’s terror attack.
“Due to the current situation on the ground, Waverley Council has made the decision to cancel New Year’s Eve events at Bondi Beach, including elrow XXL Bondi and Local’s Lawn,” a spokesperson said.
Fuzzy, the event producer will contact ticketholders.
Bondinye posted on Instagram confirming the cancellation saying “Our hearts are with everyone affected by the tragedy at Bondi Beach. What happened has deeply shaken our community and all who call this place home.”
“We have been working closely with Waverly Council over the past couple of days, focusing on compassion and care for Sydney’s Jewish community and all those impacted, allowing NSW Police to further progress their investigation.”
‘Line in the sand’: Premier prepares for crackdown on hate speech
Chris Minns says that the new rules that his Government will introduce will be a “line in the sand”, cracking down on hate speech.
“I’m worried about the dissemination of hateful, bigoted, racist language in our community,” he said.
“I would say if you’ve got lax laws in place in relation to hate speech, it’s my view it emboldens people to go further. They believe it’s somehow socially acceptable and it won’t be punished,
“This legislation (will) send a clear message, we’re not going to stand for it.
“It leads to horrible criminal violence, and we need to draw a line in the sand.”
NSW Premier says state ‘clearly’ has a problem with radicalisation
Premier Chris Minns has admitted NSW “clearly” has a problem with radicalisation and hate speech in the wake of Bondi’s terror attack.
“It would be self-evidently crazy to see the circumstances on Sunday and turn a blind eye to that radicalisation,” Mr Minns said.
“It’s terrible to see.
“We need to do everything we can to ensure that we don’t see it proliferate in our community. But it’s a difficult task.
“One of the reasons why we’ve moved comprehensive changes to hate speech laws in New South Wales is to go in part and achieve that goal.
“I want to make it clear I indicated immediately after hearing about the events on Sunday night that we need to do things differently. And be open to change and we’ve got a responsibility to pull the community together and not add to the division.
Premier acting so people don’t fear being killed on streets
Chris Minns says that new rules on protests will be designed to about a fire in the community that would be hard to extinguish.
“I have a responsibility to keep the community safe. To ensure that people can walk down the street without being in fear of being killed,” Mr Minns said.
“Multicultural Australia is something I believe in. But the truth of the matter is, you need strict rules in place to ensure that our society is successful.
“Unfortunately, when you’ve got a terrible situation where people are killed, mowed down in great numbers just because of their religious faith. I think it would be a horrible situation to see (now) a mass demonstration.
“Right now, we’ve got a responsibility to keep the community safe. A mass demonstration on this scale would be so divisive for our community; it would light a fire I think would be difficult to extinguish.”
‘Combustible’: Minns flags protests will soon be denied
NSW Premier Chris Minns has told citizens that now is not the time for protest, fearing the community will be ripped further apart.
“I’m firmly of the view, having spoken with many community members, not just from the Jewish community, but right across Sydney, that protests right now in Sydney would be incredibly terrible for our community,” Mr Minns said.
“In fact, they would rip apart our community.
“Particularly protests about international events. I completely understand there are people concerned about what is happening overseas; they have every right to be concerned.
“My worry is what is happening in Sydney right now. We’ll look at - my concern is that a mass demonstration in this combustible situation with our multicultural community could light a flame that would be impossible to extinguish.
“So we’re looking at reforms whereby when there’s a terrorism designation in the state, the police commissioner may not accept applications for protests on the grounds that it will both stretch police resources and secondly, add to community disharmony and as a result, a combustible situation in the state.”
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