Sydney officials have confirmed New Year’s Eve will be “fully secure” after hiring Ahmed Al-Ahmed as both Head of Security and his own backup, following contract negotiations that left him extremely wealthy and largely in charge.
According to NSW Treasury, the entire security budget has now been exhausted, with remaining funds redirected into what officials described as a “single, premium Ahmed-based solution.”
“Once Ahmed became the plan and the contingency, he was able to demand whatever he wanted,” a government source said. “And we agreed, because at that point there were no alternatives.”
Authorities insist the arrangement is efficient, noting all incidents will be reported directly to Ahmed Al-Ahmed, who will assess the situation before escalating it to himself if required.
With no budget remaining for additional staff, officials reassured the public that Mr Al-Ahmed’s new financial position would keep him “highly motivated” throughout the night.