Bondi Beach Massacre: Fury Erupts as Pro-Albanese Gov’t Sacking Demands Ignored Amidst Unauthorised Protest
- hundreds of right-wing protesters defy authorities, gathering in Sydney’s Prince Alfred Park to demand the Albanese government be “sacked” over the Bondi Beach massacre
- Protesters chant “export terrorists”, “Albo has to go”, and “put Australia first” as Nationals-turned-One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce denies the event is a rally
- police declare the event “unauthorised” and warn attendees they may face obstruction and unlawful assembly charges
In a shocking display of defiance, hundreds of right-wing protesters converged on Sydney’s Prince Alfred Park, ignoring pleas from state and federal authorities to cancel the event. The crowd, waving Australian flags and placards, chanted slogans such as “export terrorists”, “Albo has to go”, and “put Australia first” as they demanded the Albanese government be “sacked” over the Bondi Beach massacre.
Nationals-turned-One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce, who was set to address the crowd, denied the event was a rally, instead calling it a “meeting” about “temperance and resolve”. However, his words were quickly drowned out by the chanting crowd and a man shouting in the background, prompting the MP to turn around.
Organisers had billed the Put Australia First rallies in Sydney and Melbourne as a last-ditch effort to halt proposed reforms to state and federal gun, speech, and protest laws. Despite Jewish groups and the Prime Minister calling for the events to be cancelled on the National Day of Reflection, the protests went ahead, sparking widespread outrage.
Prime Minister Albanese echoed the Jewish community’s concerns, saying the rallies “should not go ahead” and that “terrorists have sought to divide this country, but this is a time to stand united – particularly on this National Day of Reflection”.
NSW Police warned people against attending the rally, deeming it “unauthorised” and stating that individuals who chose to attend may face obstruction and unlawful assembly charges. The police have boosted their presence in Bondi for a vigil later in the day.
Among those set to speak at the event were One Nation senator Sean Bell, former MP and conspiracy theorist Craig Kelly, and Iranian-Australian anti-Islam campaigner Ali Beikzadeh. In Melbourne, Victoria state Libertarian MP David Limbrick and far-right activist Morgan Jonas were also scheduled to address the crowd.
Mr Joyce has been vocal in his opposition to tightened gun laws, saying that placing further restrictions on gun ownership is “exactly the opposite of what you want to be doing”. He claimed that the focus should be on tackling radical Islam, rather than restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens.
NSW Premier Chris Minns called the protest “the last thing we need right now”, adding that it was an “attack on immigrants or immigrant communities” and that the Jewish community deserved to bury their dead with “grace and peace”.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry chief executive Alex Ryvchin said the National Day of Reflection was about coming together and that the country needed to be “awakened” to the threat of hatred and contempt towards the Jewish community.