NSW Police push back against arming private Jewish security groups

The question of who holds the gun in a crisis is currently tearing through the heart of the New South Wales legal system. Following the horrific Bondi terror attack on December 14, 2025, which saw 15 people lose their lives at a Hanukkah celebration, the state government has been under intense pressure to rethink security protocols. While the Community Security Group NSW (CSG NSW) were on the ground when the shooting occurred, they lacked the authority—and the firearms—to intervene effectively. Now, as the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion grinds through its evidence, the tension between the police and private security outfits has boiled over.

Deputy Commissioner David Hudson told the commission on Wednesday that he harbours "considerable reservations" about granting private security groups, specifically those from the Jewish community, any expanded legal powers. He’s looking at this through the lens of community cohesion. He’s worried that giving one specific segment of society powers that the average Aussie doesn't have will inevitably create a divide. It’s a delicate balance: how do you keep a community safe without turning them into a state within a state?

"Isolating a particular group for additional powers within our community is problematic. It creates a disconnect between groups. It can cause friction between groups if one particular element of society is afforded privileges that others aren't."

This isn't just theory for the government; it's a massive headache for the NSW Premier, Chris Minns. Only weeks after the attack, the Premier publicly suggested that the government might need to look at arming the CSG. It was a move that signalled a desperate desire to prevent another Bondi, yet it seems the top brass at the police force aren't on the same page. The commissioner’s testimony marks a friction point that complicates the relationship between political leaders who want to show action and the police who are worried about the long-term impact on law enforcement standards.

As the public hearing portion of the royal commission wraps up for this session, the mystery deepens regarding who exactly was making the calls on the day of the attack. Counsel assisting the commission, Richard Lancaster SC, confirmed that the specific operations inspector who was in charge of resourcing for the 'Chanukah by the Sea' event won't be called to give evidence. The officer remains hidden behind a pseudonym. This decision was made by Royal Commissioner Virginia Bell after she received confidential details from the NSW Police Force.

The process moves behind closed doors until June 12. These private sessions are strictly cordoned off from public view to protect national security and ongoing criminal proceedings linked to the December attack. We're set to hear from heavy hitters like ASIO’s Mike Burgess and Mike Noyes. We'll also hear from senior police figures including Leanne Mccusker and Kirsty Heyward. Even the firearms registry isn't escaping the spotlight, with four officers expected to front the commission.

There is a legitimate fear, voiced by Lancaster himself, that the public is only ever going to see half the picture. Because so much of the sensitive evidence is being locked away, the community is left to guess about the failures that led to such a catastrophic loss of life. With over 13,000 submissions already filed—mostly from the Jewish community who are rightfully demanding answers—the pressure on the commission to deliver a clear account of the event failures is immense.

The scope of the inquiry and hidden voices

• The commission is scrutinising the 2025 Bondi terror attack which claimed 15 lives.
• CSG NSW volunteers were present during the shooting but had no legal authority to carry weapons.
• Counsel assisting Richard Lancaster SC noted that evidence taken publicly will reveal only a fraction of the full story due to national security concerns.
• The identity of the police operations inspector responsible for event resourcing remains protected under a pseudonym.
• Future testimony will include representatives from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the WA Police Commissioner, Col Blanch.

This royal commission is turning into a brutal audit of how we handle public safety in multicultural Australia. Whether it’s the government's desire to hand out more authority to volunteer groups or the police's rigid refusal to budge on their monopoly over force, the outcome here will change how we view security for years to come. The question is whether the answers the public gets behind closed doors will actually provide any closure, or if the divide between state security and private protection will only grow wider.