Police officers armed with long-arm rifles will be a visible presence at the final Ashes cricket Test in Sydney this weekend, as authorities maintain heightened security measures following the deadly Bondi Beach attack last month.
Security Measures for Major Events
New South Wales police have confirmed that public order and riot squad officers will carry the weapons at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) for the fifth and final Test match against England, which begins on Sunday. A capacity crowd of approximately 48,000 spectators is expected for the match, which concludes a series already won by Australia with a 3-1 lead.
This deployment follows similar security enhancements at other major summer events, including the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and the New Year's Eve celebrations across Sydney. Victoria Police commissioner Mike Bush indicated that such armed deployments would be assessed on a case-by-case basis for other major events, including the upcoming Australian Open tennis tournament.
Public Reassurance, Not a Specific Threat
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon emphasised that the decision is not a response to any active or imminent threat. "Many people may not be used to seeing police carrying rifles at sporting events but our objective here is to help the public feel safe," Lanyon stated. The police presence will also include uniformed and mounted officers performing high-visibility patrols around the venue.
The increased security focus comes after 15 people were killed in a shooting at the 'Chanukah by the Sea' Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach on 14 December. In response, NSW Premier Chris Minns has said the state government is considering several options, including requesting Australian Defence Force (ADF) troops to guard Jewish sites and potentially expanding weapons access for the Jewish Community Security Group (CSG).
International Response and Government Action
In the wake of the attack, Israel has offered to train Australian police in counter-terrorism. In a letter to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli suggested that Burke's prior correspondence had "stops short of directly identifying radical Islam as the driving ideology behind [the Bondi] attack." Chikli's letter proposed hosting and training senior Australian security personnel in Israel.
A spokesperson for Minister Burke's office confirmed receipt of the letter but declined to comment on whether the offer was being considered. The spokesperson highlighted that the government "has taken action on hate speech, hate crimes and hate symbols" through recently announced legislation.
The NSW police reported that the New Year's Eve deployment of over 2,500 officers, some carrying long-arm weapons, resulted in a "largely incident-free night." Authorities aim to replicate this secure environment for the high-profile cricket match at the SCG.
