Chris Minns’ own security expert warned that tougher police powers after Bondi could ‘increase radicalisation’

Before the passage of new protest laws in New South Wales, Premier Chris Minns was warned by a security expert, Alexandra Caples, that tougher policing could backfire. Caples advised that expanded police powers, implemented after the Bondi beach terror attack, might damage community trust and hinder efforts to counter extremism. Documents reveal Caples suggested heavy-handed policing could alienate communities and potentially increase radicalization. She also cautioned that further hate speech reforms considered after the Bondi attack could worsen the problem. The warnings highlight concerns that the new laws, intended to address security threats, could have unintended negative consequences.