NSW Premier Chris Minns has announced a major organised crime crackdown, promising life sentences for anyone plotting a gang-related murder following the deaths of two innocent men mistakenly targeted by Sydney’s underworld in less than 48 hours.
University student Marco Tapia was shot in the neck at Glen Alpine last Tuesday morning, while electrician Joshua MacDonald was killed visiting a friend at Merrylands West a day later.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: NSW Premier announces life sentences for gang murder plots
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Minns admitted there was a problem.
“It’s horrifying to see. It’s shocked the public. It’s shocked us as well,” he said. “This is immoral, evil behaviour and we’re determined to stop it.
Under the proposed laws, anyone involved in planning a gang-related murder could face life behind bars, even if the killing never happens.
“We will continue and we will be relentless until the streets of Sydney are safe,” NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said.
Police could also seek immediate court restrictions on suspected organised crime figures, limiting their movements, contacts and use of technology.
Young offenders involved in serious shootings and firebombings could face adult penalties under the changes.
MacDonald’s family told 7News police and politicians weren’t doing enough to stop the bloodshed.
“This keeps growing almost day by day now,” his uncle Trevor Norton said. ”It’s just absolute stupidity, what’s going on. Do your work.”
Aunt Darlene Norton said “they could have stopped this.”
“Josh could still be here,” she said.
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane said the violence was out of control.
“Tday’s announcement is an admission of that,” she said.
The Premier says he wants the new powers introduced as soon as possible, but there is no timeline.
This is the third significant crackdown on organised crime by the Minns government in the last two years, and not all of it has passed through Parliament yet.
The tough new changes won’t be in effect for at least a few months.
In the meantime, police have thrown more resources at dismantling organised crime networks with additional patrols on the ground and in the air.