• On December 25, the New South Wales (NSW) Police imposed a two-week ban on public assemblies across Sydney until January 7, 2026.  
• This will include a ban on any gatherings in the Southwest Metropolitan, Northwest Metropolitan, and Central Metropolitan areas in the city.  
• The measure follows the declaration of the Bondi Beach attack on December 14 as a “terrorist attack,” allowing NSW police to enforce such restrictions under the recently passed Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act on December 24.

1. The slated measure is likely precautionary in nature, stemming from the newly bestowed powers on NSW police to impose such restrictions to ensure overall safety following the December 14 Bondi Beach attack in Sydney, which killed at least 15 individuals. The prohibition on public assemblies is also likely targeted at restricting pro-Palestinian and anti-immigration demonstrations and associated sensitivities in the coming days and weeks, given the resonance of these issues in the city. The ban is also expected to facilitate an enhanced security posture during the Christmas and New Year celebrations in the coming days, to mitigate the risk of crime and violence during large-scale public gatherings.  
2. FORECAST: The authorities are anticipated to maintain heightened vigilance and elevated security presence across sensitive locations in the city in the coming days in lieu of the upcoming celebrations. This will include increased patrolling and security screening across key public spaces, government buildings, protest hotspots, and major transport hubs in the coming days. Disruptions to travel are likely due to the elevated security measures until January 7, 2026.

Those operating or residing in Sydney until January 7, 2026, are advised to maintain vigilance due to the ongoing prohibitions and security measures, while allotting for travel disruptions.