Source : Perth Now news
In April 2024, Joel Cauchi armed himself with a hunting knife and killed six people within three minutes at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping mall in Sydney’s east.
A coronial inquest into the tragic event delivered findings and recommendations, the bulk of which were accepted by the NSW government on Wednesday
KEY FINDINGS
* Joel Cauchi’s psychiatrist Andrea Boros-Lavack made no error in weaning him off anti-psychotics but failed to treat him when his symptoms returned
* NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott’s use of force shooting Cauchi was justified and she acted courageously by pursuing him alone
* The sole security operator manning the CCTV room during the attack was not competent enough and her employers at Scentre Group and Glad Group should have known
* Security could not have triggered alarms or warned the public over the centre’s PA system before Cauchi completed his fatal attacks
RECOMMENDATIONS ACCEPTED BY THE NSW GOVERNMENT
* Rolling out a co-responder model to mental health crises more widely, so people experiencing an episode are met with clinicians as well as police
* Boosting investment in community mental health to reduce demand for outreach services
* Extending knife wanding laws, which have been subject to a review
* Promoting an “escape, hide, tell” public safety campaign, an active shooter emergency response protocol recommended by counter-terrorism authorities
* Driving better communications between emergency services
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT SAID
* “We look forward to continuing to commit the funds necessary to ensure people who are vulnerable, living with mental health challenges, have got the supportive accommodation they need so they can live their most fulfilling lives” – Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson
* I’ve had an opportunity to speak to both some victims as well as the surviving family members … hopefully this response is a demonstration to them the legacy that their loved ones have left is an improved response to (emergencies)” – Health Minister Ryan Park
