New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has been grilled on a pro-Palestine protest that unfolded at the Sydney Opera House two weeks ago, which included the burning of an Israeli flag and chanting of anti-Semitic slurs.
The government lit up the iconic landmark in blue and white on October 9 to show solidarity with Israel after terror group Hamas launched a horrific attack on the Jewish state days prior.
During senate estimates on Tuesday, the Premier faced an intense line of questioning from Leader of the Opposition in the NSW Legislative Council Damien Tudehope over the decision to illuminate the Opera House. "I thought it was important to show solidarity with that community given the context of really unprecedented barbarism by a terrorist organisation on Israeli civilians.
Mr Tudehope repeatedly asked the Premier if he carried out a risk assessment in relation to lighting up the Opera House, pointing to a rally in"I’ve been informed by staff that a risk assessment was undertaken by NSW Police and I don’t have a copy of that, and to be frank with you, it wouldn’t have changed my decision.
Citing his phone records in the hearing, Mr Minns noted he had 11 conversations with his Chief of Staff, seven conversations with the Minister for Multiculturalism, at least two calls with the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, and a conversation with the Police Minister. "I was informed. I don’t have an excuse here other than it went wrong and I do owe the Jewish community in particular an apology for it."
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