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Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for making yourselves available this afternoon.
We're here today to talk about the overnight shooting homicides.
Two in Sydney and certainly,
from my perspective, unacceptable and totally,
I think, a betrayal in what we hold to be important
in Australia, that is, the safety of your own street and
our suburbs. I have with me today Minister Gallagher,
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Superintendent Mick Willing,
Superintendent Scott Cook from the State Crime Command.
I will get the minister to talk through
the events that he wants to bring to you and then we will take questions.
At this stage, as I've already indicated, there was a press conference earlier today,
unfortunately not all of you were able to get there,
that being the case we thought this was an ideal opportunity to address the
issues again,
just to be sure that we're on the record. Thank you minister, if I can hand it over
to you.
Thank you very much for that, ladies and gentlemen thank you
for coming down here this afternoon, I've sat down with the Commission on a
couple occasions during the course of today
to discuss the events of overnight and indeed
events of recent times and the approach the police
taking. Rest assured, as I said to the Commissioner,
not only today, but I've said in the past, whatever resources they need,
be they legislative or be equipment, be they other,
the New South Wales Government stand directly beside the New South Wales
Police Force
in relation to these levels of criminality.
As a commissioner has said, this sort of behaviour on our streets is completely
and totally unacceptable. It's not acceptable to the police
and to the wider community, it should also be totally unacceptable to the families,
the loved ones and the friends
of those that have been the victims overnight and indeed
those involved in this level of crime. There's only one way
that these people who have access to information can play a significant role
in stopping it happening
and that is by making confidential contact
with the New South Wales Police Force. There is no doubt
in my mind, that people who are out there
listening to broadcasts, listening to discussion, listening to your
community concern about these events would have access to information that
quite simply could be invaluable.
It could be invaluable to identify who was responsible for last night's
shootings
or indeed who would be responsible for
any future shooting or any other act of criminality
that these people are involved in. I again make
the plea, if you want to stop your loved ones,
your friends, your family, if they're involved in organised crime, they're
involved in outlaw motorcycle gangs,
falling at the end of a gun, then make
the call to police and make that call as quickly as you can.
It's the best gift, it will be the greatest gift you potentially could give
your loved one
and that is a gift of life. Today the federal minister,
Jason Clare, spoke about organised crime and there's no doubt that what we see on
the streets here in Sydney,
what we see in the streets of Adelaide, Brisbane, be it any other state or
New South Wales, this level of criminality is about crime that is organised around
drugs or other vice-like criminal activity.
It is so important for the federal government to continue,
we're hearing the message now, they need to fall
fully commit behind providing the resources to our New South Wales Police here,
other states, their police forces, not just token words.
We need to have the bodies in boots
on the street to assist the New South Wales Police, the Queensland Police,
you name it, any other state jurisdiction to actually
bring these offenders to heel. It's so important to again make
that salatry observation, none of these guns are used in these drive-bys,
overwhelmingly handguns, are produced in this country. They're all brought into this
country,
they all come in through our borders and it's so important
that the federal government uphold their end of the bargain
to our state police jurisdictions by ensuring that our borders
not porous, are in fact as secure as they possibly can
If drugs are coming in, guns are coming in, god knows what else potentially be
coming in.
It's so important that the federal agencies entrusted with the
responsibility of looking after this nation's borders
are refocused, resourced
and are committed to do the job It is, what I say,
the biggest assistance that they can give our state police
in combating guns coming into the country.
Thank you minister, Superintendent Mick Willing, the head of the Homicide Squad.
Thank you Commissioner. As the commissioner alluded to, we are currently
investigating
the deaths of two men in Sydney's south last night.
Around 9:30 p.m. police responded to
reports of shots fired in Chelmsford Avenue
at Earlwood. There, a 35-year-old man
was found to be suffering from gunshot wounds. He was conveyed to St. George
Hospital,
where he later passed away as a result of his injuries. Police have established
Strike Force Cardin
to investigate that particular death under the leadership the homicide squad
at this point in time.
Meanwhile around 9:45 p.m. last night,
police also responded to reports of shots fired
in Alban Street in Bexley, where they found an eighteen
year old man suffering from gunshot wounds.
He was also conveyed to St. George Hospital
and also died as a result of his injuries.
Detectives have established Strike Force Doused to investigate that death at the
moment. Both of those matters are currently ongoing investigations, we are
canvassing
a large area around both of those crime scenes.
I'm asking anyone with any information that could assist us to come forward.
In relation to the death of the 35-year-old mean at Earlwood,
we have some information to suggest that a dark
vehicle was seen leaving the area. I don't know much more about that vehicle
at this point in time, however if somebody out there
does have have information that could assist us, please come forward. You can
come forward anonymously.
We need the help of the public to solve these crimes.