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The Advertiser Newspapers
Race riots: Police given new power
By SAMANTHA BADEN
14dec05
AN EMERGENCY session of the NSW Parliament will give Sydney police new powers to crack down on racial and mob violence, amid signs that the city's race tensions are spreading to other states.
A force of 450 highly-mobile police also patrolled Sydney streets last night to try to prevent a third successive night of violence following Sunday's Cronulla race riot.
Eight people were injured on Monday night as groups of Middle Eastern men in fast-moving convoys of cars roamed southern Sydney suburbs, trashing vehicles and shop fronts.
In Maroubra, gangs collected rocks and petrol bombs as they prepared to defend the beachside suburb.
An attack on a Lebanese Australian taxi driver in Adelaide and a Middle Eastern family in Perth have been linked to the Sydne
y tensions. And the Islamic Council of Victoria said v
andalism of its Melbourne offices was retaliation for the Sydney violence.
On the Gold Coast, mobile phone text messages targeting ethnic groups have called for people to attend a demonstration on Sunday and to start "cracking skulls".
With Australia's and Sydney's reputation for racial tolerance under threat, the NSW Government has moved to end the spiralling violence.
An emergency session of parliament on Thursday will give police powers not seen since the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
"These criminals have declared war on our society and we are not going to let them win," said Premier Morris Iemma, who said the criminals had brought "shame" to Sydney.
Under the changes, police will be able to lock down parts of Sydney and search and confiscate vehicles to end night-time "smash and bash" raids by carloads of young men.
NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Goodw
in y
este
rday said the force was "dealing with an unprecedented situation the likes we haven't seen in Australia before".
n
Powers to shut down licensed premises and impose temporary alcohol-free zones will also be aimed at avoiding a repeat of Sunday's drunken riot at Cronulla beach, when anyone of Middle Eastern appearance was chased and bashed.
The NSW opposition will support the new laws.
"I won't allow Sydney's reputation as a tolerant, vibrant international city to be tarnished by these ratbags and criminals who want to engage in the sort of behaviour we've seen in the last 48 hours," Mr Iemma said.
It is hoped the new powers will prevent a feared resurgence of violence at Cronulla on Sunday, inspired by text messages.
Prime Minister John Howard denied the violence would damage Australia's reputation.
But Labor's Kevin Rudd declared: "Blind Freddy can tell you this is having an impact on Australia's i
nternati
onal sta
nding. That's just the truth."
Skara Brae,
madkins
The Advertiser Newspapers
Race riots: Police given new power
By SAMANTHA BADEN
14dec05
AN EMERGENCY session of the NSW Parliament will give Sydney police new powers to crack down on racial and mob violence, amid signs that the city's race tensions are spreading to other states.
A force of 450 highly-mobile police also patrolled Sydney streets last night to try to prevent a third successive night of violence following Sunday's Cronulla race riot.
Eight people were injured on Monday night as groups of Middle Eastern men in fast-moving convoys of cars roamed southern Sydney suburbs, trashing vehicles and shop fronts.
In Maroubra, gangs collected rocks and petrol bombs as they prepared to defend the beachside suburb.
An attack on a Lebanese Australian taxi driver in Adelaide and a Middle Eastern family in Perth have been linked to the Sydne
y tensions. And the Islamic Council of Victoria said v
andalism of its Melbourne offices was retaliation for the Sydney violence.
On the Gold Coast, mobile phone text messages targeting ethnic groups have called for people to attend a demonstration on Sunday and to start "cracking skulls".
With Australia's and Sydney's reputation for racial tolerance under threat, the NSW Government has moved to end the spiralling violence.
An emergency session of parliament on Thursday will give police powers not seen since the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
"These criminals have declared war on our society and we are not going to let them win," said Premier Morris Iemma, who said the criminals had brought "shame" to Sydney.
Under the changes, police will be able to lock down parts of Sydney and search and confiscate vehicles to end night-time "smash and bash" raids by carloads of young men.
NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Goodw
in y
este
rday said the force was "dealing with an unprecedented situation the likes we haven't seen in Australia before".
n
Powers to shut down licensed premises and impose temporary alcohol-free zones will also be aimed at avoiding a repeat of Sunday's drunken riot at Cronulla beach, when anyone of Middle Eastern appearance was chased and bashed.
The NSW opposition will support the new laws.
"I won't allow Sydney's reputation as a tolerant, vibrant international city to be tarnished by these ratbags and criminals who want to engage in the sort of behaviour we've seen in the last 48 hours," Mr Iemma said.
It is hoped the new powers will prevent a feared resurgence of violence at Cronulla on Sunday, inspired by text messages.
Prime Minister John Howard denied the violence would damage Australia's reputation.
But Labor's Kevin Rudd declared: "Blind Freddy can tell you this is having an impact on Australia's i
nternati
onal sta
nding. That's just the truth."
Skara Brae,
madkins