Minns: no decision yet on arming CSG at public events
'Many people in the Jewish community will not go to public places unless there's someone there who's armed who can protect them,' Premier says
Premier Chris Minns has told a NSW budget estimates hearing the government has not reached a decision on allowing Community Security Group (CSG) guards to carry firearms at public Jewish events, but that he would not rule it out on the basis of existing custom and precedent.
Questioned by Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MLC Robert Borsak on Thursday, Minns said CSG members were already armed and highly trained, and had long been providing security at Jewish schools, synagogues and community centres.
Minns said the question put to him was whether they could carry firearms on public land, which covers events such as Chanukah by the Sea at Bondi Beach.
“Given we’re already armed for Jewish institutions, when we have an event like Chanukah by the Sea and there are limited police resources, are we able to have one of our security guards to have a firearm on their person?” he said, framing the request.
He said the question needed to be worked through with police, particularly the de-escalation protocols that apply when officers attend a site where an active shooter is present.
“We haven’t made a final decision as it relates to it, but I do think it needs to be considered,” Minns said.
“Many people in the Jewish community will not go to public places unless there’s someone there who’s armed who can protect them … I’m not just going to say no because of the custom and precedent that’s already been set.”
Borsak put to Minns that NSW law permits armed guards to protect cash and valuables, and asked how he justified a system allowing armed protection of property but not of human life at a public event.
“It’s hard to justify,” Minns said. “That’s why we’re trying to grapple with the policy change.”
He said it was not the only measure being pursued, pointing to NSW Police’s new Armed Response Command (ARC), under which hundreds of police in a permanent command with long arms will provide a 24-hour security presence.
Borsak raised evidence to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion by NSW Police deputy commissioner David Hudson, who said expanding the CSG’s ability to carry firearms would be perceived as favouritism towards one group. Minns said he did not share that concern, describing the attack on the Jewish community as an extraordinary and damaging event for the state.
Asked whether a decision would come before the election, Minns said he could not speak to that. “The policy issues are profound and difficult to unravel. If it was easy, someone would have done it by now.”
The estimates appearance followed comments to ABC Sydney on Wednesday in which Minns said he was supportive of a trial. He said he was concerned the Jewish community would not participate in Chanukah events for fear of another attack, and that for select events with a high risk of a mass shooting, “I think it needs to be trialled”.
Australian Jewish Association president Robert Gregory told the Royal Commission that many in the Jewish community would not feel safe attending open air events without armed protection.
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