Another suspected gangland shooting exposes the Police Minister’s claim that organised crime in Sydney is “not out of control”, says NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane.
Sydney is reeling from three suspected underworld attacks in just one week, including two apparent mistaken-identity killings, as fears grow over the escalating wave of violence.
Last Wednesday, 40-year-old Joshua MacDonald was gunned down at the doorway of a home where children were present on Bruce Street in Merrylands West.
Mr MacDonald had just parked a work vehicle in the driveway when shots were fired from a stolen grey Audi sedan.
Just one day earlier, university student Marco Tapia, 23, was fatally shot while in his bedroom at his family home in Glen Alpine.
The most recent killing on Wednesday, September 9, saw boxing coach Louis Meehan fatally shot after walking out of Punchbowl Community Centre just before 6pm.
Addressing reporters last Thursday amid growing concerns over the recent violence on Sydney streets, Police Minister Yasmin Catley said police were doing everything they could to curb organised crime across the city.
But she denied the situation was out of hand.
“I do not accept that this is out of control because, as I said, we will not surrender our streets to organised crime gangs – not now, not ever,” Ms Catley said at the time.
“The New South Wales Police are working around the clock to address these issues, to really hone in with intelligence, with the intelligence that they have for these incidents.”
NSW Opposition Leader Ms Sloane has demanded the Police Minister front the public and provide reassurance, accusing her of being “nowhere to be seen” amid the latest suspected gangland shooting.
“People across Sydney would understandably be fearful after reports of another suspected underworld shooting, this time in a public car park directly opposite a primary school,” Ms Sloane said.
“This latest killing exposes the gulf between the Minns Labor Government’s reassurances and the violence unfolding on Sydney’s streets.
“At a time when communities are looking for leadership and reassurance, the Police Minister is nowhere to be seen.
“She needs to front up and explain how she can continue to claim organised crime is not out of control.”
Shadow Minister for Police Anthony Roberts said communities deserved an honest assessment of the violence occurring across NSW.
“The Police Minister may be on leave, but the violence has not taken a break,” Mr Roberts said.
“People should not have to fear that they or their children could be caught in the crossfire while going about their daily lives.
“Keeping people safe is the most basic responsibility of government, yet Labor repeatedly voted against tougher measures proposed by the NSW Liberals and Nationals before the violence reached this point.”
The New South Wales government this week unveiled a legislative package including an aggravated offence for conspiracy to commit gang-related murder, increasing the maximum penalty to life imprisonment.
The new offences will capture criminals involved in planning a murder, even if they are not the person conducting the killing.