Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory said members of the Jewish community came across the police’s response to the vest-related arrest on their way home.
“We are pleased that the suspicious item was apparently found not to be dangerous, but the whole Bondi community has been on edge since the Chanukah attack,” he said.
Rabbi Yossi Friedman leads people in prayers at the Bondi Pavilion in December.Credit: Kate Geraghty
The vigil marked the end of “shloshim”, the 30-day Jewish mourning period that followed the shooting at Bondi.
The audience fell into a hushed silence as performers sang a special rendition of Waltzing Matilda dedicated to 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim of the attack.
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Since the first day after the attack, Rabbi Yossi Friedman has held vigils at Bondi Pavilion three times a day at 7.30am, 1pm and 7.30pm.
A federal royal commission will be held into the circumstances leading up to the Bondi attack, in which alleged terrorists targeted a Jewish celebration.
Former High Court justice Virginia Bell will lead the national inquiry. A report is due before December 14, 2026.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has supported the federal royal commission, but said the state may still need to hold its own inquiry on state-specific issues.
The premier has this morning announced stronger powers for local councils to shut down unlawful premises accused of hosting hate preachers, allowing them to cut off utilities when operators ignore planning laws and cease-use notices.
Canterbury-Bankstown Council issued a “cease use” directive in December after it found the Al Madina Dawah Centre was never approved to operate as a prayer hall.
Bankstown’s Al Madina Dawah Centre has been issued a notice to shut down by the local council.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
“There is no place in NSW for hate, intimidation or extremism masquerading as community activity,” Minns said.
“These reforms give councils real powers to act when premises are operating unlawfully and spreading division.”
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone labelled the announcement “complete garbage” and accused the state government of palming the problem off to local councils.
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“How can the council regulate hate speech? I mean, this is a police matter,” he told 2GB.
Carbone said development applications for places of worship generally attract so many objections that they end up going to a state government panel anyway.
“The other big issue is these places can operate anywhere; they can operate in a local club, they can book a hall,” Carbone said.
“Don’t try and pretend that this is a council issue because what he’s actually announced changes absolutely nothing if you’re an unauthorised place of worship.”
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