A permanent visa will be offered to a Pakistani security guard injured during the Bondi Junction stabbing attack, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed.
Security guard Muhammad Taha was taken to hospital after confronting attacker Joel Cauchi during his stabbing rampage on Saturday, which killed six people.
While French construction worker Damien Guerot — who was also dubbed “Bollard Man” after footage emerged of him confronting the attacker — , Taha had questioned whether a similar offer should be extended to him for his efforts.
“Similarly, as a direct victim of the incident, I believe I deserve recognition and consideration for citizenship,” he told The Australian.
Taha is in Australia on a graduate visa, which is due to expire, the newspaper reported.
When asked about whether similar offer of citizenship or visa would be put to Taha, Albanese confirmed the move.
“Muhammad Taha, he confronted this guy, the perpetrator, Joel Cauchi, on Saturday. And it just shows extraordinary courage,” he told Adelaide radio station 5AA on Thursday.
“These are people who were putting … themselves in danger in order to protect Australians they didn’t know, just people going about, doing their shopping.
“That’s the sort of courage that we want to say thank you to, frankly.”
Albanese on Thursday also confirmed a permanent visa would be issued to Guerot.
“There was extraordinary stories of bravery amongst the carnage and tragedy that we saw on Saturday,” he said.
“It’s a bit of light in amongst the darkness that you saw these extraordinary acts.”
Emily Hudson
As a direct victim of the incident, I believe I deserve recognition and consideration for citizenship. I confronted the perpetrator on Saturday and showed extraordinary courage. It’s important to thank individuals like me who put themselves in danger to protect others.