Bondi Junction recommendations accepted by NSW government

The NSW government has announced it will accept all recommendations directed towards it from the Westfield Bondi Junction coronial inquest, six months after findings were handed down.A "floridly psychotic" Joel Cauchi murdered six people — Yixuan Cheng, Faraz Tahir, Jade Young, Pikria Darchia, Dawn Singleton and Ashlee Good — and injured another 10 in a Sydney stabbing attack on April 13, 2024.He was shot dead by police less than six minutes after the attack began.Over five weeks in 2025, NSW State Coroner Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan heard from central figures about the atrocity, with the aim to identify both failings and opportunities to strengthen the state's systems and responses.She handed down 23 recommendations, 13 of these recommendations were directed to the state government, including Ambulance NSW and the commissioner of the NSW Police Force.On Wednesday, the state government said it supported 11 recommendations in full and supported two in principle.Recommendation 5 Recommendation five is directed to the NSW government.(ABC News)Supported by NSW government.The coroner asked the commissioner of the NSW Police Force and the commissioner of the Queensland Police Service to convene with Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).She asked them to consider the role, if any, of psychiatrists in preparing assessments of fitness for weapons licensing, and whether that role should be incorporated into weapons licensing legislation.The working group has been established.Recommendation 7 Recommendation seven is directed to the NSW government.(ABC News)Supported in principle by NSW government.Magistrate O'Sullivan stressed the need for short-term accommodation in Greater Sydney for those experiencing mental health issues and homelessness to be modelled, established and supported.Long-term accommodation solutions were also encouraged.The state government said NSW Health and Homes NSW had prioritised investment in housing approaches such as Habilis, HAVEN and Pathways to Community Living.Recommendation 8 Recommendation eight is directed to the NSW government.(ABC News)Supported by NSW government.The coroner called for the NSW government to obtain advice from NSW Health on:The decline of and related demand for mental health outreach services in NSW.The additional resources required to meet the need for outreach psychiatrist services.The realistic time frame to achieve those additional resources.What is required to provide a model to care for persons suffering from complex, severe mental illness.A comprehensive report advising of options to improve the current public mental health system.Magistrate O'Sullivan called on NSW Health to ensure clinicians at community health centres had access to contemporary evidence based on "de-prescribing" guidelines, related to the potential risks if clients cease prescribed psychotropic medication.Recommendation 11 Recommendation 11 is directed to the NSW government.(ABC News)Supported by NSW government.The NSW government was urged to consider options to support the rollout of appropriate co-responder models, namely police working alongside specialised mental health professionals in crises.Last week it was confirmed people experiencing mental health emergencies would now be met by healthcare workers as opposed to NSW Police.Recommendation 12 Recommendation 12 is directed to the NSW government.(ABC News)Supported by NSW government.Given Cauchi's interest and use of knives, the coroner recommended the NSW government monitor and assess whether the current law related to police knife wanding operations should apply to certain "crowded places" without the need for a declaration to be made.The NSW government increased penalties for knife crime and increased NSW Police knife scanning powers.The review recommended that the law be expanded to allow wanding to occur at major entertainment venues after a relevant declaration is made.Recommendation 13 Recommendation 13 is directed to the NSW government.(ABC News)Supported by NSW government.Magistrate O'Sullivan recommended an advertising campaign dubbed 'Escape. Hide. Tell', to be disseminated to promote how to survive armed offender scenarios.The NSW government said agencies would work to develop short, medium and long-term communications and a campaign strategy to further implement this.Recommendation 15 Recommendation 15 is directed to the NSW government.(ABC News)Supported by NSW government.It was recommended for NSW Ambulance to confirm the introduction of Tranexamic acid as part of the standard products carried in NSW Ambulance vehicle equipment.Tranexamic acid is used in emergency medicine to stop severe bleeding, and has since been implemented into paramedic practice.Recommendation 16 Recommendation 16 is directed to the NSW government.(ABC News)Supported in principle by NSW government.The coroner recommended NSW Ambulance's current review of their major incident response plan include consideration of:The roles and responsibilities of commanders and their functional roles.The command structures roles.The adequacy of the training for and exercising of commanders to ensure they obtain and maintain competency.A new command tabard system to better identify commanders and functional role on scene.Appropriate training in relation to major incident management.The NSW government said a revised major incident response plan was under final review.Recommendation 17 Recommendation 17 is directed to the NSW government.(ABC News)Supported by NSW government.NSW Ambulance was asked to give further and expedited consideration to the status of the 2024 review into the special operations unit response capability.In response, it said it had completed expedited consideration of the review and modules had been enhanced.Recommendation 18 Recommendation 18 is directed to the NSW government.(ABC News)Supported by NSW government.The coroner asked the government to consider convening an urgent working group involving relevant representatives from the state's emergency services.The group was recommended to develop and implement an interoperability framework to provide clear structure for multi-agency responses to major incidents.Recommendation 19 Recommendation 19 is directed to the NSW government.(ABC News)Supported by NSW government.The NSW government was recommended that the urgent working group, as listed in recommendation 18, consider the implementation of the 10-second triage.It is a rapid screening tool by emergency services in NSW.NSW Ambulance has completed the review of the clinical validity and integration of the 10-second triage tool.Recommendation 20 Recommendation 20(ABC News)Supported by NSW government.Magistrate O'Sullivan encouraged NSW Police Force and NSW Ambulance to conduct a joint review of existing inter-agency radio communication protocols and processes in relation to major incidents, to identify potential areas for improvement.NSW Ambulance, in consultation with NSW Police Force, said it would review protocols and consult on a final framework draft.Recommendation 21 Recommendation 21(ABC News)Supported by NSW government.The final recommendation was for the commissioner of NSW Ambulance to review the potential utility of a rescue task force concept, and the government has committed to such a review.Attorney-General Michael Daley thanked Magistrate O'Sullivan for her "comprehensive examination" of the tragedy, and her team's sensitivity towards the bereaved families during "a devastating time"."All our hearts go out to the families who were affected, whose lives have affectively been destroyed forever from this horrific incident," he said.Ms Jackson said the coroner's findings "highlighted the importance of a mental health system that is accessible, connected and capable of supporting people with complex needs".So far, the NSW government's response to the inquest recommendations is the only response received, as per the Department of Communities and Justice's webpage.The coroner is awaiting responses from the Australian Communications and Media Authority, Queensland Health, RANZCP and others.