15 Apr 2024

NSW Premier flags permanent memorial for victims of Bondi Junction attack

2:33 pm on 15 April 2024
(240414) -- SYDNEY, April 14, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A woman lays flowers outside the Westfield Shopping Centre at Bondi Junction in Sydney, Australia, April 14, 2024. One Chinese citizen was killed and another wounded in a mass stabbing attack at a Sydney shopping center, the Chinese Consulate General in Sydney said on Sunday. (Xinhua/Ma Ping) (Photo by MA PING / XINHUA / Xinhua via AFP)

A woman lays flowers outside the Westfield Shopping Centre at Bondi Junction in Sydney, on April 14, 2024. Photo: AFP

A permanent memorial for the victims of the Bondi Junction attack has been flagged by NSW Premier Chris Minns on ABC Radio Sydney this morning.

Minns was among community leaders including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who laid floral tributes at Bondi Junction on Sunday, honouring the six people killed in the attack on Saturday afternoon.

The Premier says the government will look at establishing an enduring memorial in the next few weeks.

"We're looking at a more permanent memorial at Bondi," Minns told ABC Radio Sydney.

"It's such a horrible and traumatic event for the city," he said.

"Maybe the families can draw some strength from the fact that there's millions of people that are standing with them and caring about them."

Ashlee Good.

Ashlee Good Photo: Supplied / ABC

Also on Monday, New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park said he had been "delighted" to learn the condition of the nine-month-old baby injured in the attacks had improved.

The condition of the baby girl who is being treated at Randwick Hospital has moved from "critical to serious".

"That's a big change and a significant improvement," Ryan said.

The baby's mother, Ashlee Good, who was 38, was killed in the rampage.

Meanwhile, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has named the sixth person killed in the attack.

Yixuan Cheng was a Chinese national studying in Australia. Her family is currently on their way to Sydney.

Lindt Cafe siege recalled

Minns said a memorial would be similar to one in Martin Place for the two people killed in the Lindt Cafe siege in central Sydney in 2014.

Cafe manager Tori Johnson and barrister Katrina Dawson were killed during the siege, after a lone gunman took 18 hostages inside the CBD cafe.

Waverley mayor Paula Masselos, whose council area includes Bondi Junction, said council will discuss ways they can support the community at their meeting on Tuesday night.

"I'm thinking that a memorial of some kind for this would be most appropriate," Masselos said.

"I am putting up a mayoral minute that will be looking at what council can do to support the community both from a physical and practical point of view, but also something that will help the community come to terms with the dreadful, dreadful events."

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (2nd L), New South Wales Premier Chris Minns (2nd R) and federal member of parliament Allegra Spender (L) leave flowers outside the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping mall in Sydney on April 14, 2024, the day after a 40-year-old knifeman with mental illness roamed the packed shopping centre killing six people and seriously wounding a dozen others. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

From left, MP Allegra Spender, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns leave flowers near the scene of the knife attacks within the mall. Photo: AFP

Day of mourning declared

Albanese declared today a national day of mourning for the victims.

Government buildings will be flying flags at half mast today and the Sydney Opera House sails will be lit up tonight with a black ribbon to honour the victims.

People have been laying floral tributes at the Oxford Street Mall in Bondi Junction, across the road from the shopping centre where the attack happened.

Written condolence messages are being collected next to the floral tributes, while an online condolence book has also been set up by the NSW government.

- ABC

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