Authorities in New South Wales have prolonged a prohibition on protest marches across key parts of Sydney, adding another two weeks to the emergency restrictions initially imposed on Christmas Eve.
Emergency Powers Enacted After Bondi Attack
The decision to extend the ban for a further 14 days was announced by NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon on Tuesday. The original emergency measures were triggered in the immediate aftermath of the deadly mass shooting at Bondi, which was declared a terrorist incident.
Special laws were rapidly passed through the NSW Parliament following the attack, granting the police commissioner the authority to prohibit public assemblies in major metropolitan zones after a declared terrorist event. Commissioner Lanyon utilised these new powers almost as soon as they became available, instituting the initial two-week ban starting 24 December.
"About Making Time for People to Feel Safe"
Addressing the rationale behind the continued restriction, Commissioner Layneon emphasised that the move was focused on community security. "This is not about stopping free speech, it’s about making time for people to feel safe," he stated. The declaration specifically restricts organised public gatherings in Sydney's southwest, northwest, and central metropolitan areas.
Under the legislation, the commissioner holds the ability to renew the ban on a fortnightly basis for a potential total duration of up to three months. This latest extension indicates the ongoing high-level security concerns held by authorities in the wake of the Bondi violence.
The situation remains under active review by police and government officials, with further updates expected as the new deadline approaches.
