Westfield, retailers at odds over pre-attack drills

Campbell Kwan, Michael Bleby and Gus McCubbing

Apr 16, 2024 – 6.25pm

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Westfield owner Scentre Group is at odds with retailers over whether it conducted armed offender drills at its Bondi Junction mall, where six people were fatally stabbed at the weekend, raising questions about the shopping centre’s protocols in mitigating against civilian attacks.

Various Westfield Bondi Junction retail store managers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity from not wanting to risk their jobs, said the shopping centre only offered fire and natural disaster training and drills.

Campbell Kwan covers commercial and residential real estate for The Australian Financial Review, based in the Sydney newsroom. He was previously the breaking news reporter.

Michael Bleby covers commercial and residential property, with a focus on housing and finance, construction, design & architecture. He also dabbles in the business of sport. Michael is based in Melbourne.

Gus McCubbing is a journalist at the Australian Financial Review in Melbourne.