The NSW state coroner has delivered her findings of the inquest into the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing attack, with hero police officer Amy Scott praised for her bravery.
On April 13, 2024, Joel Cauchi murdered six people at Bondi Junction Westfield: Yixuan Cheng, Faraz Tahir, Jade Young, Pikria Darchia, Dawn Singleton and Ashlee Good.
He also injured another 10 during his stabbing rampage at the shopping centre.
Cauchi was shot dead by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott less than six minutes after the attack began.
NSW State Coroner Magistrate Teresa O’Sullivan heard from witnesses, experts and central figures over five weeks for the inquest. The findings, more than 800 pages, included 23 recommendations for a number of industries, governments and bodies.
On Thursday, Magistrate O’Sullivan paid tribute to the bravery of Inspector Amy Scott, who shot dead Joel Cauchi, describing her actions on the day as “extraordinary, calm, skillful and courageous, and actions which clearly saved lives.”
Scott has recently been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive breast cancer.
Each victim died as a result of injuries inflicted by Cauchi during a psychotic relapse of his chronic schizophrenia.
During her statement on Thursday morning, Magistrate O’Sullivan reflected on Cauchi’s care under psychiatrist Dr Andrea Boros-Lavack and recommended that the Queensland regulator review the psychiatrist’s treatment and care of Cauchi.
Several recommendations are directed to the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, recommending they give urgent consideration to the development of new guidelines relating to the care and management of those dealing with schizophrenia.
A call for ‘vision and leadership’
Magistrate O’Sullivan called for “vision and leadership” from government and other bodies in implementing the mental health and support service recommendations.
“There are also recommendations to government which are geared towards the mental health context in New South Wales and Queensland. This impacts upon all of the community first responders, the health system and the population at large,” O’Sullivan said.
“It is a problem which is not going to be resolved without proper planning and execution coupled with vision and leadership. Now is the time for those steps to be taken.”
She also recommended that the NSW government model the need for short term accommodation in Sydney for those experiencing mental health issues and homelessness, and then establish and support these services.
Police and ambulance officers went ‘above and beyond’
In relation to first responders, Magistrate O’Sullivan said the actions of officers from the police and ambulance were “rapid and extensive” in the wake of the attack.
“Individual officers and paramedics faced with an unprecedented incident went above and beyond,” she said.
However, she ndicated there were issues with the “interoperability” between the New South Wales Police Force and New South Wales ambulance, and how they work together.
In regards to the response from the shopping centre, Magistrate O’Sullivan said Westfield Bondi Junction was “well-prepared” for an active armed offender incident and had excellent security capability.
However, she found the CCTV control room operator on the day was not competent to be in the CCTV control room unsupervised on that day.
She also recommended the NSW government pursue a public advertising campaign to better equip the public response to similar incidents. The principles of ‘escape, hide, tell’ should be a focus of this campaign, she said.
Magistrate O’Sullivan also made recommendations to the media after families of the victims said media coverage of the attack had exacerbated their trauma.
She also recommended bravery awards be appointed, naming Inspector Amy Scott, Ashlee Good, Noel McLaughlin, Damien Guerot and Silas Despreaux as potential recipients.