November 21, 2024
JAMES PATERSON: Early media reports appear to indicate that an act of political violence was committed overnight in Woollahra, in Sydney, with cars being gratified and one set alight. Police will do a press conference later this morning and if they confirm that it is true that this was an act of politically motivated violence this will be an incredibly disturbing development in Australian politics. Although we have had a lot of tension, a lot of intimidation, a lot of uncomfortable scenes in the last year in Australia, we've not yet had violence on this scale, and it would be a profoundly disturbing development if that is indeed what has happened.
It's critical that police and governments come down together to enforce the full extent of the law on the alleged perpetrators of this incident. We must send a very strong message that it is totally and utterly unacceptable to engage in politically motivated violence in Australia. That however strong you feel about events overseas, it is never acceptable to engage in violence here in Australia in response. Because the truth is if people engaging in this behaviour do not fear the consequences of their behaviour then they will be emboldened and their behaviour will continue to escalate. So we must stand strong and ensure that the law is enforced to the fullest extent possible.
Thank you.
ENDS
