Easter Show organisers have introduced a spate of new security measures after a violent stabbing which led to the death of a teenage worker.
The carnival section of the showground was closed on Tuesday as police established a crime scene and forensic investigators combed the area.
A 17-year-old boy was killed after receiving a knife wound to the chest during a brawl which broke out on Monday night. He died en route to hospital, despite efforts of paramedics to revive him.
A 16-year-old boy also suffered a stab wound to the leg and is currently in a serious condition at Westmead Hospital.
On Tuesday, a 15-year-old boy was released on bail from the Parramatta Children’s Court on the condition he does not come within one kilometre of the showgrounds at Homebush.
NSW Police do not believe he was responsible for the stabbing and are still looking for those responsible.
As of Wednesday, more police will patrol the showgrounds from the afternoon and into the evening and improved lighting will increase visibility.
Security screening will be enhanced at the entrance with walk-through metal detectors.
Metal detector wands and bag checks will be conducted at random and the main gate into the park will now close at 3.30pm.
The main arena entertainment will now finish at 9pm and carnival rides will close at 9.30pm every night.
It is the second brawl at the Easter Show in two years, after 20 people were involved in a violent fight on the last day of the 2021 show, leaving a 17-year-old and 20-year-old with stab wounds to the leg.
It had taken officers an hour to break up the brawl, NSW Police said at the time.
Channel 9 Today Show host Karl Stefanovic questioned Sydneyxjmtzyw Royal Easter Show manager Murray Wilton on why these measures were not already in place, despite police consultation before each annual show.
“We took recommendations from police and our security company and we did implement changes for this year without a doubt,” Mr Wilton said.
“Quite obviously, it wasn’t enough.”
Mr Wilton said with 77,000 patrons visiting the show on the day of the incident, inspecting every bag would be “almost impossible”.
The Today Show host asked the show manager if people could rest easy now, knowing they were safe at the family event.
“I bring my children to the show,” he said.
“Unfortunately it is just the way that society is at the moment.
“We have had a small handful of people ruin an event for over 800,000 people.
“We are going to do everything humanly possible that we can today to ensure that people are safe.”
The measures were approved by the show’s board during a meeting on Tuesday afternoon and are set to be implemented from Wednesday.
