The royal commission on antisemitism has pressed a risk and security consultant on his belief that the private security sector should be armed when protecting open air events.
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has returned to Sydney after sitting in Melbourne for the past two weeks.
Witnesses over the past week have given evidence about the security arrangements at Jewish institutions, events and places of worship.
The commission has previously heard evidence about the possibility of arming the Community Security Group (CSG) NSW to bolster security and help the community feel safe in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack.
CSG NSW provides volunteer support and security services at Jewish events and institutions across the state.
While CSG officers can already carry weapons if they are providing security at schools and synagogues, they had an unarmed presence at the Hanukkah event targeted in December’s terror attack.
Witnesseshave given evidence about the security arrangements at Jewish community events, schools and places of worship. (ABC News: Liam Patrick)
Risk consultant Gavriel Schneider on Monday told the commission the private security sector could be better utilised to immediately respond to violent incidents in the time before emergency services could be deployed.
Dr Schneider said this could include arming private security officers stationed at open air events, such as the Hanukkah celebration at Bondi.
Commissioner Virginia Bell SC AC pressed Dr Schneider on that suggestion, saying Australians were broadly “averse” to a visibly armed security presence at community events.
“The notion that one makes a community safer by arming more people might not be one that enjoys broad support in the Australian context,” she put to Dr Schneider.
Dr Schneider acknowledged the community’s concerns, but said the private sector could provide a “valuable alternative or support” to existing policing resources.
Robert Gregory has recommended there be a government review into improving security capabilities. (ABC News: Timothy Ailwood)
The Australian Jewish Association, which identifies as a right of centre organisation, recommended there be a government review of the protective capabilities of licensed security guards.
The association’s Robert Gregory said the Jewish community would not feel safe attending open air events “unless there is armed protection”.
“If the police can be there that’s great but they can’t be all the time,”
he said.
“When we have a communal organisation that is willing to protect the community, that is trained … I think it just makes sense that you allow them to have the capabilities to protect that community.
“If we are trusting people to carry weapons to protect synagogues, I think what’s the difference if they are protecting Jewish events in other places?”
Premier ‘considering’ arming security for events
Shortly after the Bondi Beach attack, NSW Premier Chris Minns said the state government needed to take a “deeper look at arming CSG”.
The premier addressed the issue again in late April, saying discussions were ongoing.
A NSW government spokesperson said “any serious proposal that could improve community safety, including the evidence and recommendations of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion” would be considered.
“This year, the Minns Labor Government established Australia’s first rapid response unit, which will embed a high-visibility, intelligence-led policing unit that can quickly respond to threats, patrol high-risk areas, protect places of worship and major events, and provide a visible presence to keep communities safe,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“Once fully operational, it will have approximately 250 dedicated police officers, 28 civilian staff and a fleet of specifically modified rapid-response vehicles.”
Scott Wilson says highly trained specialist officers are needed in all main cities due to risk of an attack. (Supplied)
UK-based crisis management and planning expert Scott Wilson said such a resource should have been developed much earlier.
“I think I was quite surprised that it had taken them to 2026 to realise you needed much more specialist officers when we were changing that model [in the UK] in 2012,” he said.
“Without a doubt you need highly trained specialist officers in your main cities because these attacks could happen anywhere.“
The commission previously heard 11 officers were at the scene of the Bondi attack within five minutes of the shooting starting, with one gunman shot and wounded and the other shot dead within seven minutes and 40 seconds.
When pressed, Mr Wilson said it was unlikely an armed rapid response unit could have responded and apprehended the gunmen any faster than the general duties officers, whose conduct he described as “exemplary”.
But he said the presence of the unit, and officers carrying long-arm firearms, may have prevented three police officers from being injured.
Deputy police chief split on expanding powers
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson previously told the commission the police force had “reservations” about the prospect of expanding the CSG’s armed capabilities.
Appearing again on Monday, Deputy Commissioner Hudson said that position had not changed.
“Allowing certain areas of society, no matter what those areas are, to have special privileges in relation to their security would further fracture … situations which are fairly tenuous and relationships which are fairly tenuous,” he said.
“It would certainly be looked upon to others as the police or governments showing favouritism to that particular group.”
Deputy Commissioner Hudson says his position against arming the CSG remained unchanged. (ABC News: Timothy Ailwood)
The commission also heard from the Jewish Communal Appeal (JCA), which is the body responsible for allocating donor funds to its member groups.
About $20 million was raised through the group’s fundraising efforts last year, but the commission did not hear what proportion was allocated to security and protection services.
The organisation’s CEO Alain Hasson said member groups’ security needs had increased significantly over the past three years, with donor funds unable to keep up with the demand.
Alain Hasson told the commission requests to arm members’ groups had significantly increased. (Supplied)
“The main aim of JCA is to have a thriving, vibrant Jewish community,” he said.
“Every dollar we give to security and fighting antisemitism is a loss for … Jewish identity.”
Mr Hasson said the community was grateful for any government funding allocated to support Jewish Australians’ safety, but said more standing reoccurring grants were needed to keep services sustainable into the future.
He said these grants should be made available to all minority groups with an assessed security need, not just the Jewish community.
Parts of the security-focused hearings have been shut to the public, with AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt among those to give evidence behind closed doors last week.
Counsel assisting Richard Lancaster SC said there was “a limit to the detail that can be adduced publicly about the specific security measures” in place at Jewish sites and functions.
“Ventilation of security matters in open hearings should not compromise the very security arrangements that this hearing block seeks to understand and improve,” he said last week.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.abc.net.au ’
