In a significant shift following the devastating Bondi terror attack, Australian authorities are actively considering deploying the army to protect Jewish sites across New South Wales. Premier Chris Minns stated he would not rule out seeking Australian Defence Force (ADF) support, marking a potential major change in domestic security posture.
Immediate Armed Response for New Year's Eve
As an immediate and visible change, Mr Minns confirmed that New South Wales Police will be deployed with long-arm firearms during Sydney's upcoming New Year's Eve celebrations. He acknowledged that the sight of heavily armed officers would be confronting for the public, but argued it was necessary to provide reassurance in the wake of the attack.
"We haven't normally seen on the streets of Sydney, long-armed firearms, but NSW Police will have them," the Premier said on Sunday 28 December 2025. He added that many residents, particularly parents, had expressed a desire for a stronger visible security presence to feel safe.
Reviewing Failures and Future Protections
The Premier was frank in his assessment that existing security arrangements had catastrophically failed to prevent the attack at the Jewish festival in Bondi earlier this month. Fifteen people were killed and at least 40 injured when a father and son opened fire on the crowd in what police described as a religiously motivated extremist act "aligned with Islamic State".
Mr Minns announced a New South Wales royal commission to examine the tragedy. It will scrutinise potential intelligence failures, police resourcing, and whether warnings about security risks were adequately assessed prior to the event. The commission will also look at protections for vulnerable communities more broadly.
Armed Security for Community Groups Under Consideration
Another step under active consideration is whether to arm the Community Security Group, the organisation that provides security at Jewish events. "That's a step that we haven't taken in the past," Mr Minns stated, emphasising the need to demonstrate that security capable of responding to serious threats is in place.
The Premier described the potential use of the ADF and the arming of community guards as part of a necessary recalibration. "We are in discussions about it. I'm not prepared to front-run it because obviously that is a change for us," he said, while firmly refusing to rule anything out.
The heightened security posture was already evident during a vigil held last Sunday, which coincided with the final night of Hanukkah. Police deployed officers with long-arm firearms and positioned snipers on rooftops overlooking Bondi. The father involved in the attack was shot dead at the scene, while his son was arrested and later remanded in custody on 59 charges, including committing a terrorist act.
