NSW Inquiry Probes Police and Government Over Fabricated Caravan Terror Plot

New revelations highlight delayed disclosures, controversial legislation, and organized crime motivations behind the hoax.

A parliamentary inquiry is examining the NSW government's and police's handling of the January 19 discovery of a fake terrorism plot involving an explosives-laden caravan in Dural, Sydney.
NSW Deputy Police Commissioner David Hudson revealed early suspicions that the plot was a criminal scheme to manipulate the justice system, not a legitimate terrorism threat.
The NSW government passed hate speech and religious worship laws on February 20, citing rising antisemitic incidents, before the plot was confirmed as fabricated on February 21.
Police delayed publicly disclosing the hoax until March 7, citing legal advice and ongoing investigations, while inaccurate data on antisemitic incidents further fueled criticism.
A senior NSW police officer signed an NDA with the AFP in February, limiting information sharing about the plot's mastermind, who reportedly sought to influence prosecutions.