<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police packing unprecedented amounts of firepower will be on hand to protect revellers at </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sydney" rel="" target="_blank" title="Sydney's"><span>Sydney's</span></a><span> New Year's Eve celebrations, Premier Chris Minns has revealed in a plea for people to return to Bondi.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Minns urged Sydneysiders not to steer clear of the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/new-years-eve-sydney-2025-explained-times-dates-viewing-locations/1711ed01-9704-49b0-a16a-55e75f28ac02" rel="" target="_blank" title="New Year's Eve fireworks"><span>New Year's Eve fireworks</span></a><span>, saying they should instead "thumb their nose" at terrorists who wanted to split the community following the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/bondi-shooting" rel="" target="_blank" title="Bondi Beach terror attack"><span>Bondi Beach terror attack</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We can't let these people win. We have to show defiance by going out and spending time with family and friends heading into the New Year's period," he said today.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/quakers-hill-stabbing-woman-killed-man-fighting-for-life-another-man-arrested-sydney/a1b0aa29-ffd0-40eb-a879-79ebe69a7d4f" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Two dead after suspected domestic violence stabbing in Sydney</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He also emphasised that there would be plenty of protection for people wanting to celebrate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"NSW Police will be out in massive numbers, in some cases carrying weapons and firearms you haven't seen before," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He later elaborated that officers would be carrying longarms, which is atypical for NSW Police.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-terror-attack-chris-minns-urges-people-to-return-to-bondi-support-businesses-new-years-eve-celebrations/9592e01b-8d31-4532-a8bc-e6894794067f" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-government-overseas-travel-warnings/634f8186-3dee-4046-9c3c-db627e911c39" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>The countries the government really doesn't want you to visit</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Minns acknowledged it would be "uncomfortable for some people", but that security was the state government's first obligation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He also said the state was "in discussions" about whether the military could become involved in general security operations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Outside the December 31 celebrations, Minns, alongside Waverley Council Mayor Will Nemesh, and Jobs Minister Steve Kamper, urged Sydneysiders to come back to Bondi to support local businesses, who they said had been doing it tough since the attack.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/iran-president-says-full-scale-war-with-the-west-is-underway/e352ca9f-9df7-4d8b-a533-9ac6017e22e4" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>'Full-scale war': Iran leader's chilling statement to nation</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"When the terrorist attack unfolded, our local businesses became refuges and safe havens," Nemesh said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Now it is our turn to back our local businesses."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Anecdotally, businesses have said foot traffic had been slower than usual for the time of year, and bookings had been cancelled in the two weeks since the terror attack.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We need you to return to Bondi," Minns said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is a great opportunity for you to show your support for the local community."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Businesses within two blocks of the site of the attack have access to support packages of up to $25,000.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Plans to shut down prayer halls</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Community prayer halls could be shut down under new legislation being prepared by the state government, if they are found to give a podium to "hate preachers".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"No organisation that preaches hate should have access to any government money under any circumstances," Minns said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said the government could even cut off such buildings from power and water as part of a shutdown.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And he said the hate speech laws were not targeting the Islamic community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our hate speech laws in NSW apply to everybody. Anybody who is preaching hate to any part of our community is subject to some of the toughest penalties in Australia," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is unknown how retroactively the penalties will reply. Minns did not delve into specifics but said there was "no statute of limitations" on hate speech.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We will need legislation for tougher penalties and more onerous regulations," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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