Latest news with #Eastgardens
The Guardian
6 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Alleged attack on Chinese couple leads 30,000 people to sign petition to toughen Australian youth crime laws
A violent attack on a couple in Sydney has sparked outrage in the Chinese community with almost 30,000 people signing a petition urging the New South Wales government to 'urgently reform youth criminal justice'. The man, 42, and woman, 40, both from China, were allegedly assaulted in Eastgardens in Sydney on 22 May by seven children. The woman was left with extensive bruising across her body, fractured fingers and impaired vision. The group – aged between 12 and 16 – were arrested in the days after the alleged attack and police have charged six with assault. On Friday morning, just over 29,000 people had signed a petition calling for a lowering of the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 10 for 'serious violent crimes' and to 'deny bail to repeat violent youth offenders'. Ami, who asked for her name to be changed, has signed the petition. She told Guardian Australia she was attacked in May while cycling through Redfern but says she does not 'believe sending kids to adult jail is the right solution'. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Erin Chew, co-founder of the Asian Australian Alliance, which monitors anti-Chinese incidents, said personal safety is important to the community and it was affecting its response to this crime. 'I think, as Asians, we are taught as young kids to have more hypervigilance,' Chew said. 'When we go to countries like Australia, US or Canada … we are a visible minority. So we are actually a lot … more targets of opportunity in that sense.' Chew said the alleged Eastgardens attack 'may not necessarily be direct racism'. 'A lot of us who are Chinese or Asians know that because of racial stereotypes … you are perceived as being weak, meek and … somebody that doesn't fight back.' Speaking in NSW parliament on Wednesday in response to the recent attacks, Chinese Australian MP Jason Yat-Sen Li said 'racism doesn't need to be proven in court to be real in people's lives' and argued for tackling the root causes of youth crime: 'poverty, disengagement and trauma to young people and their families'. The Chinese-speaking community in Australia has taken to social media to post about their experiences and offer advice on how to fight back. Some have posted images of batons, rolling pins and even electric hair clippers as weapons to use in self-defence. NSW police has warned people not take the law into their own hands. In a statement, police said they 'do not support vigilante behaviour as it is a risk to all involved and often leads to unintended consequences'. Others are taking a different approach, such as Keira Yin, 32, who set up a mutual defence group chat for Chatswood residents, in the north of Sydney, to 'stand up together' and to 'avoid sleazy men'. 'The idea is that if something happens, people nearby can respond quickly and help each other.' Meanwhile, Neo Xia, 25, was allegedly attacked in Box Hill in Melbourne's east April. He said a teenager holding a machete allegedly attacked him, causing injuries to his hands and arm. Police confirmed a 14-year-old boy was arrested and charged over this incident for recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault, and bailed to appear in court at a later date. 'I don't really feel scared when it happened, more like angry,' Xia said. 'I still feel a bit unsafe when I walk to the station … also, I feel particularly nervous when Australian teenagers approach me.' Community advocacy groups say racism is rising after a downturn after the heights of the pandemic. The Asian Australian Alliance says Covid-based abuse has morphed into being 'more about people being told go back to China, or people being accused of being spies'. In a statement responding to the Eastgardens attack, Simon Chan, the Chinese Australian Forum president and a member of the Australian Multicultural Council, said rhetoric around Chinese spies by politicians degraded social cohesion. 'Our political leaders should lead by example in maintaining … Australia as the best multicultural country in the world.' The six children charged in the alleged Eastgardens attack have been released on conditional bail and are scheduled to appear in children's court in June.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Aussie says what everyone is thinking after spate of disgusting racist attacks
An Aussie bloke has condemned the horrifying attack on a Chinese couple after CCTV showed the pair being viciously attacked by a group of teenagers. The pair were confronted and later encircled in the courtyard of a unit complex on Oscar Place in Eastgardens, in Sydney 's east, on Wednesday. Five youths, some as young as 12, were arrested following the unprovoked attack, which saw a 42-year-old woman hospitalised for facial injuries. In distressing CCTV of the attack, she is seen being dragged to the ground and repeatedly beaten as a 40-year-old man desperately calls for help. David Galusi, an internet personality who grew a large Chinese social media following while he lived in the country, condemned the attack in a recent TikTok. 'They were just sitting down, speaking in Mandarin, and a bunch, I mean four to six teenagers, went out and blatantly attacked them for no reason whatsoever,' he said. 'It is absolutely not on, it is totally disgusting. 'Racism is not welcome in Australian society, and we are a society of multiculturalism. We accept all cultures in this country.' Galusi said those involved do not reflect the broader community after the video went viral on Chinese social media and sparked major backlash. 'Please do not judge our country based on these idiots, because their parents couldn't educate them well enough,' he said. The social media star also called for tougher measures for violent youth offenders. Pointing to Queensland's 'Adult Time, Adult Crime' laws, he urged NSW to follow suit. Under Queensland's expanded legislation, 33 additional serious offences, such as attempted murder, rape, and robbery, can now see young offenders tried as adults. NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia that, despite widespread speculation, there was no evidence to suggest the couple were targeted due to their race. The attack gained significant attention after it was shared to TikTok with the caption: 'In Australia, a Chinese couple was surrounded and brutally attacked by over 20 teenagers in the street, just because they spoke Chinese. 'The police don't care. The media ignores it. If we don't speak up, who will?' The video sparked outrage, with the poster adding, 'This isn't an isolated case, there have been similar attacks in Redfern and Waterloo'. The man and woman in the Eastgardens incident were treated by paramedics for facial injuries before they were taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital. Both have since been discharged. Two 12-year-old girls were charged on Thursday and remain before the courts. Following further investigations, another five youths were arrested. A 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl were arrested on Friday after presenting to Maroubra Police Station. The boy has since been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company and affray. He was granted bail and will attend court on June 16. It's expected the 16-year-old girl teenage girl will be dealt with under the Younger Offenders Act at a later stage. Two teenage girls - both 14 - and a 13-year-old boy attended Maroubra Police Station at different times on Friday and were each arrested and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of other(s) and affray. All three were granted conditional bail to appear at a children's court at a later date. NSW Police said it was not looking for any other persons in relation to the assault.
ABC News
28-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Chinese couple's assault in Sydney's Eastgardens sparks 27,000-strong petition for youth justice reform
More than 27,000 people have signed a petition calling for tougher youth crime laws, after a Chinese couple was violently assaulted in Sydney's east last week. The petition, which gained traction on Chinese social media platforms RedNote and WeChat, was launched after the woman and her husband were allegedly attacked by a group of teenagers outside their Eastgardens apartment complex. The woman sustained facial injuries, bruising to her back, and fractured fingers. Seven children have since been charged over the incident, sparking frustration within the Chinese-Australian community over what many see as inadequate protection and legal accountability. The petition — signed by mostly people from the Chinese-Australian community — urges the NSW government to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 10 for serious offences and to deny bail to repeat youth offenders. "This was not an isolated incident. In the days before the assault, several other Asian individuals were reportedly harassed by the same or similar teens in nearby Green Square — including acts of spitting, mocking, and intimidation," the petition reads. "We call on the NSW government to urgently reform youth criminal justice laws." NSW Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said he was "deeply concerned" by the attacks and had contacted police to seek urgent updates on the investigation. "Every person has the right to feel safe on our streets, regardless of where they come from, or the language they speak," he said in a statement. NSW Labor MP Jason Yat-Sen Li also acknowledged the widespread fear and anger within the Chinese-Australian community, urging people to "protect ourselves lawfully". "I'm aware that recent incidents of youth violence in areas such as Eastgardens, Mascot, Zetland and Waterloo have caused deep anger and anxiety within the Chinese community," Mr Li said. In a statement, the Chinese Australian Forum strongly condemned the Eastgardens attack and warned that "racism against Chinese Australians is resurging". The group urged political leaders to promote social cohesion and called out recent "unsubstantiated" remarks by Liberal senator Jane Hume, accusing Chinese Australian volunteers of being "spies". NSW Police had declined to confirm if the Eastgardens attack was racially targeting Chinese people, as their investigation was ongoing. The attack has come amid broader concerns about anti-Asian discrimination and a rise in racially-motivated incidents targeting Chinese Australians. A 2023 Lowy Institute report found that while verbal abuse against Chinese Australians had decreased since the height of COVID-19, many still report feeling unsafe and marginalised in public spaces. Ami, a 22-year-old Chinese international student at the University of Sydney, told the ABC she was attacked by a group of teenagers on George Street, Waterloo while delivering food on her bicycle earlier this month. "I was riding my bike and then the group of teenagers came out of nowhere, and the leader, a man with a buzz cut, kicked me off my bike and started kicking me in the head over and over again," Ami said. She said at least six others joined in. "Then a kid, who looked like he was in Year 6, squatted down in front of me and asked, 'Do you [have] money?'" she said. "I screamed very loudly and then they ran away." Ami reported the incident to police and went to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital's emergency room, where she was treated for a minor concussion and multiple skin injuries. "There have been a lot of these types of attacks and I believe that this group of teens are specifically targeting food delivery persons and Asians," she told the ABC. She said she hoped the increased public attention on youth crime would lead to real consequences. "If so many people are speaking out now, I hope those teenagers can be sent to juvenile detention, or at least face restrictions like a court order banning them from entering certain areas or being out at night," she said. "I also think police patrols need to be increased." Alex Zhang, a 25-year-old employee at a medical equipment company, also shared his recent experience on Anzac Parade in Kingsford. He said he was waiting at a bus stop in Kingsford on the evening of May 14 when two young men — who appeared to be teenagers — approached him. "One of them shouted, 'I'm a racist. Go back to China to study!'" Mr Zhang told the ABC. "At first, I didn't feel I was in danger because he didn't make a move, he just kept talking to me. Mr Zhang said a passer-by intervened and the pair fled, allegedly shouting, "But he is Asian!" He said if the offenders were found to be children, he hoped they would at least be formally charged and have a criminal record. "For repetitive offenders, especially those with a criminal history, they should be detained. "They're a serious danger to society. "I feel [like I have] PTSD at the moment, and I feel scared when I walk down the road," he said. NSW Police confirmed that both Ami and Alex's reports are under investigation by the South Sydney Police Area Command and the Eastern Beaches Police Area Command. Police have urged anyone with information or dashcam footage from either incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. After the spate of attacks, members of the Chinese community in NSW — particularly across Sydney's eastern suburbs — have organised local safety patrols to support residents who feel unsafe. Operating through WeChat groups, these volunteers — mostly men in their 20s to 40s — provide 24-hour assistance, including walking escorts, on-call emergency help, and liaising with police where needed. Other states including Victoria, Tasmania, and Queensland are also facing public pressure after similar reports. In Victoria, a man in his mid-30s from Taiwan said he was told "go back to China" and punched in the face last weekend. He was bleeding from facial injuries. Last year, a series of assaults targeting Chinese migrants in Tasmania raised similar questions about racial safety and youth violence. One Hobart resident told the ABC they no longer felt safe walking in their neighbourhood and was considering moving to a different country. In Queensland, the LNP government introduced the "Adult Crime, Adult Time" laws, which impose tougher penalties on juvenile offenders. While the violent brawl between rival youth gangs at Northland Shopping Centre in Preston on Sunday has been used as an example of a youth crime crisis in Australia, criminologists and official data paint a different picture. In fact, they suggest youth crime rates have significantly declined nationwide over the past decade. Experts argue that sensationalist media coverage and political rhetoric have exaggerated the issue, leading to calls for harsher penalties that are not supported by evidence. Instead, criminologists advocate for evidence-based approaches that address the underlying causes of youth offending, such as poverty, education, and family support. Sydney-based lawyer Shen Hanbing told the ABC he expected there would be limited consequences for children offenders. "The primary purpose of a children's court is to educate children, not to punish them," Mr Shen said. He explained that Australia's juvenile justice framework is shaped by its commitment to the 1990 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Mr Shen encouraged victims of youth violence to assert their legal rights and not remain silent. "You have the right to protect yourself and pursue justice through legal means," he said. "Don't ignore what has happened to you — report it and follow through." He expressed strong support for the petition and said public mobilisation could play a critical role in prompting legal reform. He said proposals to lower the age of criminal responsibility and tighten bail conditions would represent a major shift in Australia's youth justice approach. "If the number of signatures is sufficiently high, Australia's parliament will have to respond," he said. The ABC has approached the NSW Department of Communities and Justice for comment.
News.com.au
25-05-2025
- News.com.au
‘Life here is not safe': Children charged after couple attacked in horror video
Seven children have been charged after sickening footage captured the moment a Chinese woman and her husband were violently attacked by a group of youths in a Sydney apartment complex. The couple, a 40-year-old man and 42-year-old woman who moved from Shanghai to Sydney last August, were allegedly assaulted inside the courtyard of an apartment complex in Eastgardens, in the city's east on Wednesday, police said. The woman, a pharmaceutical worker who has not been publicly identified, told the ABC she was with her husband searching for lost keys when a young boy approached her. Moments later, she said a group of teenagers gathered around the couple and began attacking her after she challenged them for swearing. 'The process was so fast. I didn't really know who these people were, and I hadn't done anything to hurt them,' she said. 'I could feel kicks and punches to my back, my head, my eyes and my arms and legs.' Video of the incident, filmed by nearby residents, shows the woman on the ground as she is hit and kicked by multiple people. A man attempts to intervene, but appears to also get struck. The woman eventually manages to sit up but is kicked in the face before the group flees. A woman with her dog was seen rushing over to help the woman. The couple were treated by paramedics for facial injuries and taken to the hospital, police said. They have since been discharged. Police on Friday charged three teenagers – two girls aged 14 and a 13-year-old boy – with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in the company of other(s) and affray. All three were granted conditional bail to appear at a children's court next month. It came after police charged two 12-year-old girls, a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl over the incident on Thursday. The boy was charged with one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of other(s) and affray. Six of the seven children are currently before the courts. 'Life here is not safe' The woman said the incident had tarnished her 'impression of this country'. 'I still believe that most people in this country are good, including many people who came forward to help me after I was attacked,' she said. 'But after the incident, I feel the life here is not safe, because you may be attacked without warning.' The video sparked outrage on social media, with many claiming the couple were targeted because of their racial background. 'This more or less confirms my concerns about the rise of racism and anti-China sentiment around the world,' one person wrote on social media. 'Racism plain and simple,' said another. In a statement to police said 'the incident is not believed to be racially motivated'. 'Everyone in the community has the right to feel safe. Police urge anyone who has been the victim of a crime or fear for their safety to contact triple-0 immediately.' Police are not looking for any other persons in relation to the assault.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Major update after unbelievable video of couple being attacked by a group of kids as young as 12 shocked Australia
Five youths, some as young as 12, have been arrested after a woman was rushed to hospital after being targeted in an unprovoked attack in Sydney. The woman, 42, and a 40-year-old man, were ambushed inside the courtyard of a unit complex on Oscar Place, in Eastgardens, on Wednesday. In shocking CCTV of the attack, the woman is seen being pushed to the ground and repeatedly hit and kicked as the man called for help and tried to block the blows. The attack continued until a passerby with a dog rushed to help the couple. Police told Daily Mail Australia that despite online reports, there was no information to suggest the couple had been targeted because of their racial background. It comes after the video was shared to TikTok on Wednesday with the caption: 'In Australia, a Chinese couple was surrounded and brutally attacked by over 20 teenagers in the street - just because they spoke Chinese'. 'This isn't an isolated case - there have been similar attacks in Redfern and Waterloo. The police don't care. The media ignores it. 'If we don't speak up, who will?' The couple were taken to Maroubra Police Station where they were treated by paramedics for facial injuries before being taken to Prince of Wales Hospital. They have since been discharged. Two 12-year-old girls were charged on Thursday over the incident and remain before the courts. After further investigations, another five children were arrested. A 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl were arrested on Friday evening after attending Maroubra Police Station. The boy was charged with one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of other(s) and affray. He was granted conditional bail to attend a children's court on June 16 while the 16-year-old girl will likely be dealt with under the Younger Offenders Act at a later date. A further two 14-year-old girls and a 13-year-old boy attended Maroubra Police Station where they were arrested and each charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of other(s) and affray. They have been granted conditional bail to appear at a children's court, The 14-year-boy is due to appear at a children's Court on June 16 while the 11 and 13-year-olds are due to appear on June 23. Police are not looking for any other people in relation to the assault.
