Retailers affected by the Sydney siege are anxiously waiting to find out if the government declares the 16-hour hostage situation a terrorism event. Shops in Sydney’s central business district have claimed their sales slumped by 70 per cent on December 15 - the day of the siege - as the streets around the Lindt café in Martin Place, where 18 people were being held at gunpoint by Man Haron Monis, were locked down by police. Some insurance companies are reportedly holding back on making any decisions on payouts until Treasurer Joe Hockey has announced whether the tragic event was a terrorism event, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
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Treasurer Joe Hockey will decide if the event was act of terrorism
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His decision will affect how much insurers have to pay out themselves
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Some shops have claimed their sales slumped by 70 per cent
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Gunman Man Haron Monis held 18 people, including Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson, hostage
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Mr Johnson and Ms Dawson died after the siege ended, along with Monis
On Sunday, it emerged highly-trained police officers were more concerned about the contents of the Man Haron Monis' backpack than his firearm when they stormed the @placeholder cafe in the chilling final seconds of the Sydney siege.