Australian police have revealed disturbing new details in a high-stakes press conference as counter-terrorism investigators uncover explosive devices, homemade ISIS flags, and overseas travel linked to the suspects. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed that parallel investigations are underway, including a critical incident probe and a joint counter-terrorism operation with the AFP. Authorities are examining the suspects’ recent travel to the Philippines, the discovery of IEDs in a vehicle, and the motive behind the attack that left one man dead and another injured. Security has been ramped up across Sydney, particularly around Jewish places of worship, as police warn the investigation remains complex and ongoing.
#AustraliaTerrorPlot #PolicePressConference #NSWPolice #CounterTerrorism #ISISFlags #IEDsDiscovered #BondiIncident #AustralianTerrorism #AFPInvestigation #BreakingNews #TerrorThreatAustralia #NSWPoliceUpdate #OperationShelter #SydneySecurity #AustraliaNews #TerrorismInvestigation #PoliceRevealDetails
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#AustraliaTerrorPlot #PolicePressConference #NSWPolice #CounterTerrorism #ISISFlags #IEDsDiscovered #BondiIncident #AustralianTerrorism #AFPInvestigation #BreakingNews #TerrorThreatAustralia #NSWPoliceUpdate #OperationShelter #SydneySecurity #AustraliaNews #TerrorismInvestigation #PoliceRevealDetails
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NewsTranscript
00:00I appreciate you all being here. I'm joined of course with the Prime Minister, Commissioner Lanyon,
00:05Commissioner Barrett, the Minister for Mental Health, Rose Jackson, the Chief Psychiatrist
00:10and the Minister for Police. Obviously we'll give an update on the latest in relation to the
00:16investigation and related matters. I want to make it clear after speaking with the Prime Minister
00:24and the National Cabinet as well as the New South Wales Cabinet that our response to this horrifying
00:29tragedy must be comprehensive and has begun already. Our approach to this terrible crime in New South
00:39Wales is multifaceted but I want to make it clear that our efforts to firstly work with the New South
00:45Wales Police on counter-terrorism efforts continue. Secondly, fighting anti-Semitism in our community
00:51which will not be done in a week or a month but it's a long-term important project for the Government
00:57of New South Wales working with civic leaders and the people of this state. Thirdly, gun law reform
01:03in New South Wales with legislation brought into the New South Wales Parliament to make gun laws tougher in
01:11this state. I'm determined to bring in the toughest gun laws in Australia and they'll be significantly
01:17tightened in New South Wales. And lastly and importantly, and this has been reflected from civic leaders,
01:23community leaders across this state bringing New South Wales together as a time of healing. I saw on the
01:29news some of the Rabbis who gave some incredible, incredible heartfelt messages to the New South Wales
01:39community about coming together, showing love to one another and getting through this through healing.
01:45And I thought that they were incredibly important messages right now in New South Wales, messages that we all
01:51need to hear. I'm very grateful for their intervention. I want to speak a little bit about blood donations too.
01:59I'm very happy to report that there has been 50,000 appointments to give blood in New South Wales, which I
02:05understand is a five-fold increase. Say to the people of New South Wales, don't give up. If you haven't got
02:11an appointment, if you can't get in immediately, we require your blood. Be a blood donor in New South Wales.
02:17To put this in perspective, for somebody in trauma, they may need 100 individual donations to save their life.
02:25So this is an urgent priority. Don't give up if you're at the end of the line, Judy. I'm also here to report that
02:32small business help will be forthcoming in the next 24 hours or will announce a program in the next 24
02:38hours for small businesses in the Bondi area. We know there's huge disruption associated with this huge
02:45police investigation. There's been an impact on the local community and part of our job after this
02:51investigation moves on is to ensure that we lift back up the Bondi community and we give people a place to
02:58come together and to return to a semblance of normal life. I want to make it clear none of the shopkeepers,
03:04none of them have complained about this at all, but we want to have their back as they open their doors in
03:10the coming days. There's lots to say. I just want to thank the public in particular, the Jewish community and
03:17interfaith leaders for their warm support in the government's to say the second day of Hanukkah. This has been a
03:24tragic event, tragic event for the Jewish community of New South Wales and Australia, but we're determined
03:30to meet it head on with a program and a set of reforms to ensure that we do everything we possibly
03:37can to ensure that it's not repeated. I'm going to pass over to the Prime Minister and then Commissioner Lanyon.
03:43Yes, thanks very much Chris. My message to Jewish Australians is that we stand with you as a nation. We
03:54embrace you at what is a terrible time. These anti-Semitic terrorist attacks will not be successful with their
04:04objective, which is to divide us as a nation. We will continue to come together as a nation and to embrace each
04:12other. Early today, I met with Australian hero Ahmed Al-Mahd and his family. I met his mum and dad who are
04:23visiting him here as well as other relatives at St George Hospital. I thanked him for the lives that he
04:30helped to save and I wished him all the very best with his surgery that he will undertake tomorrow and I was
04:39able to also thank the health professionals, the doctors, nurses and staff at St George Hospital for
04:47providing support for him. Sunday's tragedy will have of course an immediate and lasting impact on many
04:56Australians, but the Jewish community here in Sydney and nationally, first responders and people in
05:02Bondi and Sydney, the impact will be particularly acute. The Australian Government has made significant
05:09investments in mental health, including expanding headspace and the creation of Medicare mental health
05:15centres and I encourage all Australians affected by this tragedy to consider accessing the mental health support,
05:23including through Beyond Blue on 1300 224636, Lifeline on 131114, Kids Helpline on 1800 551800. Headspace for
05:40children and young people and Medicare mental health centres are of course available to support people affected by
05:46this tragedy. Yesterday I convened National Cabinet where National Cabinet again spoke about the scourge of
05:55anti-semitism and the commitment to stamp it out. We also agreed that Premier Minns and Premier Cook as the
06:04incoming chair of the Council of Australian Federation would work together to strengthen Australia's gun laws. The very nature of
06:14our gun laws means that they are only as strong as the weakest link, which is why we wanted to make sure that
06:22they followed Premier Minns's lead in committing to strengthening the gun laws that were of course created in the
06:30wake of the Port Arthur tragedy some 30 years ago. To give credit to the Howard Government of that time and the
06:37bipartisan nature in which it was adopted. The consideration that will take place includes limiting the
06:45number of guns an individual can own, the type of guns that are legal, whether gun ownership should require
06:51Australian citizenship and accelerating work on the National Firearms Register. This is an agreement that we reached
06:58through the National Cabinet at the end of 2023. We have provided over $160 million to do that.
07:07Including in that is over $100 million to States and Territories. It is a fact that for some States and
07:16Territories they still have paper records and that obviously makes it impossible to check across boundaries in a
07:24quick and efficient manner. And the digitisation that is required, we have agreed to accelerate that. We will
07:35continue to engage in this afternoon. I will have further meetings, another meeting of the National Security
07:42Committee, further meetings this afternoon. My Government is absolutely committed to working with New South Wales as well as
07:52working with community organisations, particularly Jewish community organisations at this time. I will call upon the
08:01Commissioner Barrett to make some comments before we go to questions. Commissioner Lanyon first.
08:09Thanks Prime Minister. I will start first. I would just like to give an update. Our two parallel investigations are ongoing.
08:15We have a critical incident investigation which investigates the role of police in the matter and certainly in terms of the
08:21death of the 50-year-old male and the injury to the 24-year-old male.
08:26Whilst that is continuing, we have a joint counter-terrorism operation running at the same time.
08:31And I welcome my fellow Commissioner, Commissioner Barrett here from the AFP to talk about that this morning.
08:36There is still a crime scene in place in Campbell Parade and down around Bondi Beach. I anticipate that will stay in place until
08:43tomorrow afternoon, where it will be released to the public. We continue with forensic and ballistic
08:49examinations. I have made it really clear in previous conferences that this will be a thorough investigation.
08:55I apologise for the disruptions to pedestrians and traffic while that crime scene is in place.
09:01But I'm sure all of the community understands the importance of investigating this abhorrent matter.
09:06The community reception centre has been open and activated at the Intercontinental Hotel at Coogee.
09:15That will provide health support to people who require it, mental health support, but also allows us
09:20to speak to those who are witnesses to this incident and treat them sensitively.
09:25The Public Information and Inquiry Centre is operating. That number is 1800 227 228.
09:34It's been really important to give our investigators in the joint counter-terrorism space time to
09:39investigate this matter before releasing too much information.
09:43There has been reports in the news about our two offenders travelling to the Philippines last month.
09:48I can confirm that they did travel to the Philippines. The reasons why they went to the Philippines
09:55and the purpose of that and where they went when they were there is under investigation at the moment.
10:01I also confirm that the vehicle which is registered to the younger male contained IEDs.
10:08But I also confirm that it contained two homemade ISIS flags.
10:13We continue to work through the motive of this tragedy and will continue to do so.
10:19And I think it's really important that our investigators continue to be given time to do that.
10:23This is a very complex investigation and important that we do it thoroughly.
10:30Operation Shelter ramped up yesterday.
10:33We have static patrols or static guards at a range of locations around the eastern suburbs,
10:39particularly Jewish places of worship and other important locations to the Jewish community.
10:44In addition to that, we have mobile patrols.
10:47And I want to make it very clear to the Jewish community, as we did to their leaders yesterday,
10:51that the New South Wales Police stands right beside you.
10:54We are here to keep you safe.
10:57I want the community to feel safe and be able to go around their way of life.
11:02New South Wales Police will maintain a significant response in Operation Shelter
11:07to ensure that the community can go about their normal way of life.
11:13I would like to correct a record.
11:16I have been indicating that Sajid Akram, the 50-year-old male,
11:21has held a firearms licence since 2015.
11:26Mr Akram applied for that licence on 8 October 2015,
11:31and it was recommended that it be issued in November 2015.
11:36I'm advised that he did not get a photo taken as required by that licence,
11:40and the application lapsed in 2016.
11:44A second Category AB licence was applied for Mr Akram in 2020.
11:53That licence was recommended for issue and issued in 2023.
11:58I think it's important that the transparent nature of the investigation provides that change.
12:04The initial information had been that it had been issued in 2015,
12:08and I think it's important to give that detail.
12:10He was licensed to hold a Category AB licence,
12:14and the firearms that we have seized were attached to that licence appropriately.
12:19I will hand over now to Commissioner Barrett,
12:21but happy to take some questions later.
12:23COMMISSIONER BARRETT BARRETT
12:28Good afternoon.
12:29Last night with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke I had the chance to lay a wreath at Bondi Beach
12:35after immediately returning from an overseas work matter.
12:38Between the time of this attack and until I landed back in Australia,
12:42I have had regular contact with the Prime Minister, with Minister Burke,
12:47with New South Wales Police Commissioner Lanyon,
12:49and with the AFP's Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Command,
12:53as well as senior Jewish leaders.
12:56These are my first public comments on the terrorist attack since I have returned to Australia.
13:02And I want to describe this attack in my own words,
13:05so there is no confusion and no ambiguity about the AFP's position.
13:10This was a barbaric attack against Australian Jewish Australians.
13:16On Sunday, Jewish Australians were hunted down in broad daylight at an iconic Australian beach.
13:23The suspected murderers, callous in how they allegedly coordinated their attack,
13:28appear to have had no regard for the age or ableness of their victims.
13:33It appears the alleged killers were interested only in a quest for a death tally.
13:39Like October 7, 2023, we will not forget how that shocking attack forced Jews around the world
13:46to relive modern-day terror that should have been consigned to the history books decades ago.
13:52In Australia, the AFP will never forget the date of December 14,
13:57and what it means for a community that deserves to live in peace and harmony.
14:02It is understandable and right that the community wants answers.
14:06And it is appropriate that the AFP and New South Wales Police provide this information,
14:12not only to provide answers to a community that is in shock and grieving,
14:17but also to protect how we live together safely in multicultural Australia,
14:23including calling out misinformation that could fuel retribution-type incidents.
14:29Because of these factors, we will provide information that does not impact on our investigation,
14:34noting that one alleged offender remains in hospital and is facing significant charges.
14:40Early indications point to a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State,
14:46allegedly committed by a father and son.
14:49There is no evidence to suggest other individuals were involved in this attack.
14:54However, we caution that this could change given it is early in our investigation.
15:00Alleged evidence has provided investigators with a swathe of information
15:05that has enabled them to make this initial assessment
15:08about the alleged individuals involved and their motivations.
15:12These are the alleged actions of those who have aligned themselves with a terrorist organisation,
15:20not a religion.
15:22The New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which includes the AFP, New South Wales Police,
15:27ASIO and the New South Wales Crime Commission,
15:30is continuing to review the significant material seized during search warrants
15:35and we will not provide further details of that material today for obvious reasons.
15:40The AFP and New South Wales Police have a responsibility to keep the community safe.
15:46And I want to thank Commissioner Lanyon for his steel-like leadership during this time
15:51and also acknowledge the brave men and women of New South Wales Police
15:56who have showed courage, amazing courage, in the face of cowards.
16:01Now we understand words and information are important for context and for comfort.
16:07However, we are very much focused on action, including conducting a thorough investigation.
16:13This investigation will be highly visible, precise and it will operate around the clock.
16:20The New South Wales Joint Counter Terrorism Team investigation
16:23will leverage all unique powers, capabilities and international networks. Thank you.
16:29Commissioners, where and with whom did the ACRAMs carry out their militant training in the Philippines
16:35and when did Australian authorities first have intelligence about that training?
16:41I think we have been fairly clear that the reason that the ACRAMs travelled to the Philippines,
16:45where they went, is unknown at this stage and subject to the investigation.
16:49Do you believe that any of their associates had prior knowledge of the attack?
16:54Sorry, can you just repeat?
16:56Do you believe that any of their associates had prior knowledge of the attack?
16:58That's obviously part of the investigation.
17:00We've been fairly clear that we believe that there were two people involved in this cowardly attack.
17:05We continue to investigate the matter thoroughly to determine if there's anyone else involved.
17:10Did the trip to the Philippines trigger any security alert in Australia?
17:15And if not, was that an intelligence failure?
17:19Not that I'm aware of and I don't believe it was an intelligence failure at all.
17:24We're talking about something that's retrospective, post what is a horrific crime.
17:29We've indicated this will be a thorough investigation.
17:32Both New South Wales Police and the AFP are committed to that.
17:36We are finding information post the event.
17:39But given Naveed Akram's long-standing ties to extremists in Australia, why did his father
17:45receive the firearms licence and why were they allowed to travel overseas in this way?
17:51The issue of the firearms licence is something that I've addressed previously and something
17:55that is subject of investigation.
17:57The Firearms Act has certain requirements.
18:00Mr Akram was entitled to make an application.
18:03The information that was available at the time was used to assess that information and a licence was issued.
18:08Commissioner, Bondi survivor Shmulach Skourie told the Seven Network this morning he saw four police officers at the scene in Bondi.
18:18None of them fired a weapon and he was saying he didn't understand why he's an Israeli national.
18:23So Mr Skourie, what do you say to him that the police didn't do their job and fire back at that gunman?
18:28I can't comment in relation to that actual report.
18:31What I'll say is that I'm incredibly proud of our police officers.
18:34They were confronted by two men armed with long arms.
18:38Our police at the scene were armed with pistols.
18:41Regarding the timeline of that, can you just outline when did the first police officer arrive at the scene?
18:48I don't have that timeline in front of me.
18:50That's obviously part of the investigation.
18:52I've been really clear.
18:53Both the critical incident investigation and the JCTT investigation will be thorough.
19:00We haven't heard Commissioner Barrett before about how would you describe the adequacy of police presence at Bondi and can you and Commissioner Lanyon explain why local area command was considered sufficient security for that event?
19:15Commissioner Lanyon, you just observed that they only had pistols.
19:19Is that all that they had and why were there not more police resources there?
19:23This is a police force that has access to Bearcat armoured vehicles, for instance.
19:28Why were there not more resources there?
19:30I'll let Commissioner Lanyon answer that question given it relates to New South Wales Police.
19:34I'll reiterate, that is subject to the investigation at the moment.
19:39We base our policing response on the threat that exists at the time.
19:43A lot of work is done between ourselves and the Jewish community.
19:47Obviously Bondi Beach is a large and public area.
19:50We regularly patrol that area as we did on that day.
19:53Commissioner, how many police were at the festival?
19:56I've said previously that they received taskings to go to the Bondi Beach,
20:01so there were police moving through there at all times.
20:04How many were at the scene?
20:08I can't tell you at any particular time.
20:10As I said, they received taskings.
20:12So we had police moving through the area regularly.
20:15Commissioner, were there two officers posted there for the festival?
20:19And were those two officers the ones that were working?
20:23I don't have that information for you at the moment, Damian.
20:26What I'll say is we had an appropriate policing response to ensure that police were moving through
20:30there, working closely with the community.
20:34We take safety very seriously.
20:36And I think you've seen that from the New South Wales Police.
20:39We are here to support the community.
20:40We're here to keep the community safe.
20:42Had there been intelligence that there was a particular threat at that location
20:46or to that event, we may have had a different policing response.
20:50Were they the ones patrolling?
20:51Were they the ones that were in the vicinity?
20:54There was a large number of police responding there at the moment.
20:58I don't want to give information about that whilst the critical incident investigation.
21:02Can I say something about that?
21:05Sorry, I feel it's incredibly important of me as the Premier of New South Wales
21:10to respond to some of these questions.
21:12The New South Wales Police acted with bravery and integrity.
21:17They didn't take a backward step.
21:19They engaged the gunman on the footbridge with handguns.
21:24The offenders had long-range rifles.
21:28And New South Wales Police officers were responsible for killing one of them and shooting the other one.
21:34And as a result, saving many, many people's lives.
21:37Now, there are two officers in critical care in New South Wales hospitals at the moment.
21:42They weren't shot in the back as they were running away.
21:45They were shot in the front.
21:46I'm sorry to be graphic about it, but if there's any suggestion that New South Wales Police
21:51didn't live up to their responsibilities to the people of this state, it should be rejected
21:56because it's not consistent with the facts.
21:59New South Wales Police officers, some of whom had been in the job for a number of months,
22:04put their lives on the line to save people in this state.
22:07And I think this rush to conclusions, before all the facts are known, in my view,
22:13is disrespectful to their actions on Sunday.
22:16Yes, yes.
22:17No, no, I'm sorry, but I do have a responsibility.
22:20Police were stationed there.
22:21Was it a failure of staffing?
22:23I don't think there's any doubt that if we had our time again,
22:27of course we would do things differently.
22:29And part of our response with the Jewish community and the people of New South Wales
22:33through Operation Shelter, working closely with the CSG,
22:37who are responsible for security in the Jewish community,
22:40is to ensure that we can work with them in the future.
22:43I can't take back Sunday.
22:45Nobody can.
22:46But what we can do is ensure that in the future we are putting security in place
22:51so that we rebuild trust with the Jewish community.
22:54I know that this is an existential threat for some members of the Jewish community
22:58because this was a targeted attack on members of the Jewish community.
23:02I know in many cases I saw Rabbi Wolf speak passionately about being more Jewish,
23:08refusing to hide.
23:10I thought that was such a brave and important message to send to the people of Australia
23:15and New South Wales.
23:16But we have to work with them and walk with them on that journey.
23:19And it is, hang on a second, and it's an urgent priority to rebuild Jewish social life in this state.
23:25Premier, we've just learned that a gun licence, that Sajid Akram was granted in 2023 after his son became...
23:37Yes.
23:38...authority became aware of his son.
23:39Was it then a failure of intelligence that the New South Wales Police Firearms Registry,
23:45and people that grant those licences, did not know that his son, with whom he lived,
23:52was at one stage under the desecation of age?
23:55Look, it's too early to say or make a pronouncement in relation to that.
23:59But one aspect of gun law reform that is absolutely essential in New South Wales,
24:04and it will be controversial, is for police to use criminal intelligence,
24:09not just a criminal record, in determining whether someone should keep a gun licence
24:14or even be granted a gun licence in this state.
24:16And what I'm trying to say is, if we can craft a law that the police commissioner can say,
24:21I've got concerns about this person, I don't want them having access to a gun,
24:25notwithstanding the fact that they don't have a criminal record,
24:28that's the kind of legislation that we want to see in New South Wales.
24:33Prime Minister Naveed Akram, reportedly in links to Islamic State,
24:37through connections he made as a follower of jihadist preacher, Islam Adda.
24:41Is radical Islam a problem, and how can hate preaching still be allowed?
24:46Well, what we know already is, as part of the investigation,
24:52is it goes to motive and what is being investigated,
24:57as the commissioner has said, is that it would appear that there is evidence
25:03that this was inspired by a terrorist organisation, by ISIS.
25:08Now, some of the evidence which is being procured,
25:12including the presence of Islamic State flags in the vehicle that has been seized,
25:20are a part of that.
25:22Radical perversion of Islam is absolutely a problem.
25:30It is something that has been identified globally as a problem as well.
25:36ISIS is created by an evil ideology that has been called out,
25:45not just by the Australian government, but globally as well.
25:48What are you doing now to combat hate preaching?
26:00We have passed legislation to outlaw hate speech.
26:06The first government to do so, to put in place those laws
26:09as part of our response to anti-Semitism.
26:13Prime Minister, can you just confirm there's been a lot of misinformation
26:18flying around about the student visa that Tony Burke mentioned yesterday?
26:22Can you confirm the country of origin, whether it's India or Pakistan,
26:27and also how long were they in the Philippines
26:30and was that monitored by Filipino intelligence agencies?
26:34They are all part of the investigation.
26:37So I can't go into that detail and it wouldn't be appropriate
26:40to undermine the investigation by going into it.
26:44The question on the National Cabinet yesterday.
26:46We just broke the story of the Australian newspaper
26:48in relation to that meeting.
26:50It says state leaders were forced to push you
26:53on solutions to anti-Semitism that you didn't offer any yourself.
26:56The draft document that was presented to state premiers
26:59contained one paragraph about the issue of anti-Semitism
27:02and this was later changed to add a second paragraph
27:04that included existing policies that you were already working on.
27:07Why are you not announcing a sweep of anti-Semitism measures
27:10right now instead of talking about gun control?
27:12That's not true.
27:13The report is not accurate.
27:15The meeting yesterday had front and centre
27:19a commitment.
27:22The Prime Minister today convened a meeting
27:24in the National Cabinet following the evil anti-Semitic terrorist attack
27:27directed at members of the Jewish community
27:29celebrating Hanukkah at Sydney's Bondi Beach.
27:32The document that was presented to the state premiers?
27:34No.
27:35Did they have to push you?
27:36Well, that is not accurate.
27:38It's just not right.
27:39In that meeting, did you specifically raise
27:42Julian Siegel's plan to combat anti-Semitism?
27:45Yeah.
27:46What was that reference?
27:48What we did was we referenced the ongoing work
27:51including the National Hate Crimes and Incident database.
27:54Not ongoing work.
27:55That is what it is.
27:57We have taken the report from the anti-Semitism envoy
28:02and what we are doing is busy implementing it.
28:05And we talked about that yesterday.
28:07We went through the full range of measures which we are doing.
28:11I talked about it, including the hate speech, Nazi symbols,
28:16what we are doing on doxing, what we have done with the creation
28:19of the National Student Ombudsman, what we are doing with the education program
28:24together for humanity and schools as well as security, migration issues and cultural issues as well.
28:31What would an appropriate limit on gun numbers for ownership there?
28:38And when can we expect to see a national register?
28:41What we have done is to task through National Cabinet, Premier Minns and Premier Cook,
28:49who is the incoming chair of the Council of Australian Federation, to work on that and come back to National Cabinet.
28:55The Premier, how soon could New South Wales Parliament be recalled to legislate that?
29:03Have the Coalition offered you bipartisan support for that?
29:07And also for Mr Albanese, are you disappointed?
29:10Sorry, Paul.
29:11There are a lot of questions.
29:12So, look, I would say pre-Christmas, logistically we are working with our MPs to get back into Parliament
29:24as soon as possible.
29:26I haven't had a detailed discussion with the Leader of the Opposition,
29:29but in fairness to her, we don't have a draft bill.
29:31What I have been able to say is that she's been incredible working with us over the last 24, 48 hours.
29:38She's the member for that community, and I can't speak highly enough of the bipartisan way
29:44she's approached this incredible tragedy.
29:46So, I don't want to speak for the Coalition, but...
29:50I think we'll be in a position to do this together.
29:55Yes.
29:56What are you doing?
29:57Are you considering any kind of crackdown at the Albertina-Dala Centre,
30:00and do you believe that any sort of action on extremism and curving antisemitism
30:04should take precedence over gun reform?
30:05Well, we have to do all these things together.
30:07I mean, that's the truth.
30:08This is just a horrible, horrible crime.
30:11And I think taking one action would be nowhere near enough, nowhere near enough to combat the scale of the challenges that are in front of us.
30:27So, yes, we do have to do gun reform.
30:31Sorry, folks.
30:32I know you want to get your questions out, but I think it's reasonable we get an answer out.
30:36Yes, we have to do gun control.
30:38It's incredibly important that we fight antisemitism.
30:41And one of the things about antisemitism is that it begins with hate speech.
30:47Then it might be a chant at a rally.
30:49Then it moves online.
30:51Then it becomes graffiti on a Jewish building.
30:54Then it's malicious damage.
30:55Then arson.
30:56And then it escalates to the kind of horrific violence that we saw yesterday.
31:00We have to combat it across the board.
31:02Do you support the Royal Commission into the back of the Prime Minister?
31:11Damien?
31:12The Royal Commission, there is no suggestion you might call the Royal Commission on this,
31:16or invite the President or the Prime Minister of Israel to Australia.
31:21Look, we're working through all of these issues.
31:24Our focus has been on the immediate response, the investigation,
31:29the National Cabinet meeting yesterday.
31:32Our National Security Committee will meet again this afternoon.
31:37We'll continue to monitor all of these issues.
31:40And to Paul's question that was...
31:42I didn't get to...
31:43I was going to ask if you were disappointed about a lack of bipartisanship on the Federal level.
31:48Look, this is not a time for politics.
31:52This is a time for national unity.
31:55And I think that, you know, we have organised for the Leader of the Opposition to receive a briefing from the security agencies yesterday.
32:06I think that her statement on Sunday night was entirely appropriate.
32:12And we stand ready to work across the Parliament.
32:15I've had a number of discussions with the Leader of the Opposition on Sunday night.
32:20On Monday, I discussed with Allegra Spender as the local member for Wentworth as well.
32:26We particularly have had a range of discussions.
32:28But I think what Australians want is to come together.
32:32What terrorists seek to do is to create division, is to create conflict, is to undermine social cohesion.
32:42At that time, we're a better country than that.
32:47And we can't allow their objective to be successful.
32:52And that is why we must come together as a nation.
32:56I think overwhelmingly that is the feedback that I get across the board of what people want to see.
33:02Thank you very much.
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