Jarring images show new norm in WA as heavily armed police frequent Jewish places of worship, sporting events

These are the confronting images which show the new norm in WA — heavily armed police at Jewish places of worship and major sporting events as the aftershocks of the nation’s worst terrorist attacks continue to be felt. Following on from the horrific Bondi Beach terror attack, which killed 15 innocent people, police were out in force on Saturday in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, armed with assault rifles clearly visible for all to see. In Yokine, armed police were at the Jewish Synagogue and JHUB Community Centre. Police cars were also clearly visible as the nation increases its efforts to keep Jewish communities safe. A WA Police spokesman said the large police presence at the Jewish community centre was part of a general patrol. The night before, at Optus Stadium, police were also taking no chances with community safety, carrying powerful AR-15 rifles as they patrolled the Big Bash blockbuster at Optus Stadium on Boxing Day. Officers carried powerful weapons in front of a 46,000-strong crowd, there to see Perth Scorchers take on reigning champions Hobart Hurricanes. Police also carried rifles at the Boxing Day test in Melbourne, and maintained a strong presence at Cronulla Beach after a NSW man allegedly called for a “bashing day” at the site of the Cronulla riots. WA Police yesterday made no apologies for the new norm. Police said Regional Operations Group officers had been equipped with AR-15 rifles since 2018 as part of the WA Police Force’s “ongoing commitment to preparedness for active armed offender situations”. But a spokesman added that as part of Operation Dalewood, announced on December 15, members of the public would notice an increased police presence in the community, including officers carrying rifles. “These high-visibility patrols are in place to provide reassurance and demonstrate that we are actively working to keep the community safe,” the spokesman said. Former WA police commissioner Karl O’Callaghan on Saturday said he expected Australia to never be the same again, following the Bondi attack. He said the public should get used to heavily armed police at major events in WA — and throughout Australia. “What we are seeing is what other countries have had to put up with for a very long time,” Mr O’Callaghan said. “In many sporting events, say in the UK, there are heavily armed police there as a matter of course. “The whole issue now will become more normalised. “Certainly, no one is ever going to hold a big event like a Boxing Day Test again without thinking very seriously about the level of security that’s required to protect everyone.” But Mr O’Callaghan warned police resources across the country would be stretched because of the new level of security around the nation. “I think the public will accept (the new level of security at events),” Mr O’Callaghan said. “The big issue of course is what this means for police resourcing. “With all those extra police and training, that will suck up a lot of government money. A lot of the (police) commissioners will now be talking to their governments about resourcing this particular problem.” WA Police launched Operation Dalewood in response to the the horrific Bondi attacks. The operation has seen police increase their presence at Jewish community locations and maintain high-visibility patrols across the city. “There is absolutely no place in Australia for anti-Semitism, violent extremism, hatred, or discrimination,” Police Minister Reece Whitby said on Saturday. “It will not be tolerated here in WA, and we will use every tactic at our disposal to protect the community. “Operation Dalewood is a full-scale, Statewide response, with officers highly visible, highly mobile and actively protecting places of worship, schools and community events. “The message is clear: WA Police are watching, they will act, and offenders will be arrested.” Police on Saturday promised a “highly visible presence” at key city and regional locations on New Year’s Eve. “WA Police Force officers will be deployed at New Year’s Eve events around the State helping to ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable night,” a police spokesperson said. “The public can expect to see a highly visible police presence in the five main Protected Entertainment Precincts — Perth-Northbridge, Fremantle, Scarborough, Hillarys and Mandurah, and in the main areas of regional WA. “Any form of antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated. We encourage everyone to respect themselves and others — stay safe and have fun.” Tensions and emotions remain high in the aftermath of a terrorist attack on home soil that has left the Jewish community — and other fellow Australians — shell-shocked. On Saturday, the West Australian reported that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was no longer welcome at Perth synagogues, according to Jewish leaders, who say that sadness and anger over the Bondi attack has now turned into fear. Mr Albanese, criticised within political circles and within the Jewish community for not having done enough to protect Australians from such an attack as we saw at Bondi, has moved to appease critics by revealing plans to strengthen Australia’s already strict gun laws, as well as announcing a list of legislative changes to crack down on anti-Semitism. But Mr Albanese has refused to call a Commonwealth royal commission, instead announcing a shorter probe into the country’s intelligence and security agencies. In an interview at the weekend, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong apologised to Australians and the Jewish community for the Bondi terror attack, conceding more could have been done to stamp out hate speech and anti-Semitism. On Saturday, Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley again called for Mr Albanese to call a royal commission. “You have seen calls for a Commonwealth royal commission come from a multitude of people across the political spectrum, including current, sitting Labor Party members and previous Labor members,” Ms Ley said. “And eminent Australians who have made it very clear this is not political.” Federal Education Minister Jason Clare earlier this month admitted that more needed to be done in Australian schools to “weed out anti-Semitism”, announcing an anti-Semitism education taskforce. WA Liberal senator Dean Smith on Saturday called for more youngsters to be taught about the horror of the Holocaust, as a way of further tackling anti-Semitism. “The risk of worsening hatred towards Jewish Australians, including here in WA, will remain until there is a stronger effort to tackle anti-Semitism in the community,” Senator Smith said. “There must be a greater understanding among the wider community of the dangers of anti-Semitism and intolerance, with Holocaust education in our schools being a major component. “Too many young Australians are leaving school with little or no knowledge of the terrible events that culminated in the Holocaust.”