Rabbi Eli Schlanger was an assistant rabbi and father of five, including a newborn. He died protecting his family. Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, 39, was the secretary of the Sydney Beth Din—a tireless helper and quiet backbone of communal life. Alex Kleytman, 87, was a Holocaust survivor who died protecting his wife while celebrating the festival of lights. Dan Elkayam was a French national, a footballer, an explorer and a beloved son, who loved life fully and intensely. Peter "Marzo" Meagher was a retired detective sergeant, rugby volunteer and mentor, killed after a lifetime of service. Boris Tetleroyd, a devoted husband and father, was killed while attending the event with his son, who survived. Adam Smyth was a father of four, generous and kind, and was out walking on the beach with his wife. Lastly, Tania Tretiak, 68, was an eastern suburbs grandmother attending the Hanukkah celebration with her family. May their memories be a blessing. May their names be carried in the heart of this Parliament.

As we honour those lives, we must confront a painful reality. This massacre was the culmination of a rise in antisemitism that we did not confront early enough, clearly enough or forcefully enough. The Jewish community warned us repeatedly about harassment, intimidation, extremist rhetoric and growing fear. Too often the response was statements instead of action; balance, where moral clarity was required; caution, where courage was needed. No-one intended this failure, but it was a failure nonetheless. Today in this House we acknowledge the truth, not to apportion blame but to accept responsibility.

The tragedy has revealed another truth—one that has shaken the Jewish community to its core. In the days after the attack, far too many voices were silent. The vigil at Bondi was moving, dignified and heartbreaking. We saw families light candles; we saw a community in pain. But the crowd was overwhelmingly Jewish, and so the painful question echoed across the gathering: Where was everyone else? Where were the voices that speak boldly in respect of every other injustice? Where were the cultural leaders, the influencers, the artists and the athletes? Where were the public declarations of solidarity? Jewish business owners removed Israeli flags out of fear. A Jewish bakery closed its doors because it could not guarantee staff safety. Parents hesitated before sending children to preschool. In that fear, a deeper grief took hold—the grief of feeling alone.

In the most frightening moment for Jewish Australians in generations, the question was not just "Who attacked us?" It was "Who will stand with us?" That question now rests with this Parliament and with this nation. The tragedy occurred on the first night of Hanukkah, a festival that teaches that light can endure, even against overwhelming darkness. But the menorah also teaches responsibility. Light does not endure by accident; it must be tended, defended and renewed. The candles were lit at Bondi. Joy was present; hope was alive. The gunmen tried to extinguish the light. They failed because the community refused to let the light die. Our responsibility now is to ensure that Jewish Australians never again have to keep that flame alive alone. If this tragedy teaches us anything, it is that solidarity cannot be whispered, cannot be hidden and cannot be conditional. Solidarity must be visible, public and unequivocal.

The question asked in the aftermath of this massacre, "Who will stand with us?", is not a question for the Jewish community to answer. It is a question for the rest of Australia—for leaders, for institutions, for neighbours and for this Parliament. Today we give our answer. We will stand with Australian Jews, not just in grief but in resolve; not just in words, but in action. To the families: Your grief is immeasurable. Your courage humbles us. Your loved ones will be remembered with honour. May their memories be a blessing, may light triumph over darkness and may this Parliament ensure that what happened at Bondi is never allowed to happen again. Never again—not as a slogan, but as a solemn obligation. Never again—not in words alone, but in action.

The Hon. DANIEL MOOKHEY (Treasurer) (13:37): This afternoon we convene in solemn reflection in the nation's oldest Parliament to pay our respect to the 15 beautiful souls that perished at Bondi on 14 December. Those innocent, peaceful and faithful people were the victims of the most wicked, evil and vicious terroristic crime ever perpetrated against Australians. Amongst those martyred on that very sad day were children and the elderly, husbands and wives, two rabbis, a retired police officer and a Holocaust survivor. All of them died with honour, as Jews keeping Hanukkah in the midst of their people, and standing before their God. May their memories be a blessing. May the memories of our lost brothers and sisters also be an inspiration to us, the living, to continuing waging the struggle for racial and social justice. I pray sincerely that we all will have the resolve to confront hatred wherever we see it, whenever we encounter it, so that our Jewish businesses feel safe to trade again, so that Jewish students feel safe enough to learn again and so that Jewish artists feel safe enough to express themselves again.

I further pray that we all show compassion to each other, living up to the teachings of the Talmud. They remind us, "That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow", so that we also follow the biblical injunction to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. We will then abide by the Mahabharata, which reminds us, "This is the sum of duty: Do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you", and we must remember the Hadith from the Koran that says, "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself". Let us all follow those examples, just like Ahmed al-Ahmed and Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert and Constable Scott Dyson of the NSW Police Force did on that fateful Sunday. We are grateful to all of the police officers, paramedics, doctors, nurses and lifesavers who were the first responders, as well as to all of the Australians who have given blood since then.

Bondi is a place we all share. It is a global symbol of Sydney that is known not just for its beauty but also for how many people from around the world feel welcome there. Every member in this Chamber has benefited from the openness of this city and this State. That gives all of us the responsibility to defend what we have built, to speak clearly about our values and to reject the idea that fear should ever decide who belongs here. Sydney, New South Wales and Australia are broken-hearted, but we can emerge stronger from this moment. We are a stronger, safer and more prosperous society because of the people we have welcomed here. That includes our Jewish community, whose contribution to our life, culture and society runs deep. The answer to what happened on Sunday is not retreat; it is resolve. Let us resolve to stand together, protect each other and make sure that the values that this city was built on—like openness, collaboration and strength drawn from diversity—overwhelm the hatred of a very small few, so that here in New South Wales, like the prophecy in the Hebrew Bible, none shall be afraid.

The Hon. SARAH MITCHELL (13:41): I contribute to debate on this condolence motion with a very heavy heart. We are back in Parliament on this very sombre occasion to speak on a tragic event in our nation's history. Like everyone in New South Wales, in Australia and across the world, I was shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic events that unfolded at Bondi just over a week ago. What should have been a day of celebration in a place filled with families, friends, sunshine and joy was shattered by an act of senseless violence. I was not in Sydney that day; I was at home in Gunnedah when my phone started to go off with alerts about what was going on. I turned on the news and watched it with my husband. We were horrified to see what was unfolding and could not believe it was happening in our city and in our nation.

We tried to protect our children from coming in and seeing it. As members know, my girls are eight and 12 years old. We managed to, but my eight-year-old came in right at the end when there was some vision of the police overpowering the gunmen. She said, "Good, Mum, the police have got the baddies." That was what she saw. I thought we had managed to protect them a little bit, but a couple of days later there was footage of Matilda, the 10-year-old who tragically lost her life. My youngest daughter is also named Matilda. I tried to explain to her how someone of a similar age with her name could be at the beach with her family and not come home. That was a really tough thing to do.

I keep thinking about Matilda's parents It was hard for me to talk to my children about it, but they had to bury their child, which no parent should ever have to do. These words are directed to her family and all the other families who are grieving. We are so sorry that this happened to them and their families. No-one should ever have to receive that phone call or say goodbye with no warning. No child should grow up without the parent who was meant to be there for them, and no parent should ever have to bury their child. We cannot possibly understand the depth of their grief, but they should know that the people of New South Wales grieve with them, mourn with them and hold them in their hearts.

I acknowledge all those who were injured, some of whom remain in hospital as we speak, and also those who witnessed scenes that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Physical wounds may heal, but emotional wounds can linger quietly and be just as painful. They deserve our care, patience and support, not just today but also in the weeks and months ahead. I reflect that in the aftermath of the tragedy, we saw not just horror but also incredible humanity. Strangers helped strangers and people ran towards danger to protect others. Police officers, paramedics, doctors, nurses, lifesavers and ordinary members of the public all acted with extraordinary courage and professionalism under unimaginable and horrific circumstances. We thank every first responder, frontline worker and average citizen who put their life at stake to save and help others. They showed us the very best of our State at its very worst moment.

I also acknowledge on record that this tragedy has had a very deep and painful impact on our Jewish community. Many Jewish families are grieving. Many are frightened and are asking difficult questions about their safety, place and sense of belonging. At a time of rising antisemitism, both here and around the world, the tragedy has reopened wounds and heightened fears. I say clearly and without qualification that there is no place for antisemitism in New South Wales, ever. Jewish Australians should never feel unsafe going about their daily lives. They should never be targeted because of who they are or what they believe. They should never feel that hatred or prejudice against them is tolerated or excused.

As has been said by other members, including the Leader of the Opposition, we must acknowledge that too many people feel vulnerable right now. As leaders in our nation, members of this Parliament and the Federal Parliament have a collective responsibility to do better. Doing better means listening, calling out hatred wherever it appears and consistently standing up for respect, tolerance and humanity. We must do that to support our communities. We are back in Parliament today, but this motion is not about debate or division. It is about acknowledging the pain being felt in homes and communities across our State. I finish my remarks by once again saying to the families who are grieving that we see them and honour their loved ones. We will not forget them.

Dr AMANDA COHN (13:46): On Sunday 14 December, children were digging holes in the sand, surfers were catching waves, couples were walking their dogs, friends were jogging together, families were sharing a meal and the Jewish community was celebrating the first night of Hanukkah at one of our most precious and iconic public places. Bondi is a place of beauty, peace and joy that welcomes people from around the world. It has been cared by the Bidiagal, Birrabirragal and Gadigal people for tens of thousands of years. At dawn and at dusk, the pink sky and lapping water fill us with a sense of awe. Bondi is a precious place that belongs to all of us.

At 6.47 p.m., two men desecrated Bondi with their hate, their violence and their guns. They opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration in a public park, killing 15 people and injuring more than 40 people. They traumatised the Jewish community and a generation of Australians. Hundreds of people were witness to horror at Bondi on Sunday. The atrocities that occurred have been felt deeply by all Australians and by people across the world. I visited Bondi early the following morning, and by then Bondi was still and silent. I stood with the other grievers and shared an unspoken shock and grief. Locals told me stories that were all of compassion and bravery. Those stories and the victims' stories deserve to be immortalised in this Parliament's records. The perpetrators' stories should not be told, nor should their names live on, even in infamy.

Russian Jewish couple Boris and Sofia Gurman, North Bondi locals, tried to stop the shooters before the attack began. Boris, who was unarmed and on an evening walk with his wife of 34 years, tackled one shooter to the ground. Boris and Sofia died in each other's arms. Reuven Morrison demonstrated amazing bravery when he tried to take down a shooter with a brick, sacrificing his life in an attempt to save so many others. Others shielded loved ones, and even strangers, from bullets. Alexander Kleytman was an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor who died protecting his wife, Larissa. Eleven other innocent lives were tragically lost on Sunday: Matilda, Peter Meagher, Dan Elkayam, Tania Tretiak, Marika Pogany, Yaakov Levitan, Edith Brutman, Tibor Weitzen, Boris Tetleroyd, Eli Schlanger and Adam Smyth. May their memories be a blessing.

We also commend those who provided care, support and protection in the face of such extraordinary danger and trauma. The photo of Jackson "Jacko" Doolan running barefoot from Tamarama to Bondi with his first-aid kit is an image that will forever be etched in our memories, because it captures the spirit of who we are when we are at our best. Surfers urged swimmers to hold onto their boards as they paddled groups further into the ocean and away from danger. Paramedics, ambulance crews, police, hospital emergency teams, trained volunteers, lifesavers and ordinary community members treated the wounded on the spot. Emergency service leaders like Brett Simpson, president of the Australian Paramedics Association, stepped immediately into action to lead the ambulance response.

Lifeguards carried people on surfboards to safety, local first responders triaged the injured before ambulances arrived and nurses, doctors and other health workers worked through the night in trauma units across Sydney. Mental health clinicians provided psychological support to survivors, their families and the wider community. More than 4,300 calls were made to Lifeline in a 24-hour period following the attack, marking its busiest day of the year. Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old Australian Muslim, showed outstanding courage as he snuck up behind one shooter and disarmed him. Ahmed is a father of two and a small business owner who came to Australia in 2006 from Syria. Pregnant mother Jessica Rozen ran to protect a toddler who was not her own.

Ordinary Australians waited in line for hours to donate blood at Sydney collection points. The response to this atrocity was not silence. People who heard the news desperately wanted to know how they could help. When the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood put out a call for blood donations, 50,000 booked appointments with Red Cross on the day after the attack, doubling the previous donation record. A spokesperson from the Red Cross said, "Kindness crashed our website." It is those acts of courage and compassion that embody the best of us, and that should define us.

Australians are grieving. We grieve for the victims and their families; we grieve for the Jewish community; we grieve for Bondi. We grieve for Australia. We grieve for the threat that hatred and violence pose to all of us. This event is one that I am sure all of us, not just people who were there, will distinctly remember for the rest of our lives. We will always know where we were and what we were doing when we heard that this had happened. In Australia, most of us take our safety for granted. People who were at Bondi have told me that when they first heard the sounds of gunshots they thought they were fireworks.

How lucky are we to instinctively respond to the sound of explosives with curiosity and joy instead of terror? Shootings are so rare in Australia that many Australian emergency doctors and trauma surgeons have to undertake rotations to the United States to have exposure to, and learn how to treat, gunshot wounds. Our nation's safety is the reason that so many people have sought a life here. It is the reason that so many members of the Australian Jewish community are descendants of Holocaust survivors, like me. Alex Kleytman's daughter Sabina said that it was in Australia that her father could finally fully celebrate his Jewish pride. At dusk, 24 hours after the attack, I had the privilege of attending a vigil at Hyde Park led by the Blak Caucus and Vanessa Turnbull‑Roberts. Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins spoke at the vigil. He said:

So many in our Jewish community have received messages of love from leaders in different faith communities, from Palestinian friends and friends around this country, and in so doing, we are now learning we are all just flesh and blood, and we are all also the light.

Bilal Rauf spoke on behalf of the Australian National Imams Council, a body representative of Muslim Australians. Bilal shared his deep heartbreak and condolences, and recalled the profound pain of the 2019 mass shooting at a Christchurch mosque. The embrace between Bilal Rauf and Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins brought tears to my eyes. It is a powerful symbol of the compassion and shared humanity that we must draw on as we respond to this atrocity.

In my inaugural speech as a newly elected MP I said that attacks against any marginalised community make us all less safe. The challenges we face as a society are profound: antisemitism, gun violence, prejudice and hate, racism, radicalisation and extremism. These complex challenges must be addressed and I hope that we are able to do so with care, collaboration and determination. I know from my own work providing mental health care before I was elected that trauma and grief affect all of us differently. It is not surprising that some people feel angry. For some people, there is an instinct to turn inward, to stay safe by building higher walls and to lash out at anyone who we think may harm us or is different from us. This response to trauma is being seized upon by some to sow further division and hate. But it is the diversity of our communities that is our strength.

As representatives and legislators, we can and we must refuse us-versus-them narratives retold over fresh wounds. Our responses can drive further division and further hatred, or they can meaningfully build community and safety for the Jewish community, for all marginalised communities and for all of us. A survivor of the shooting, Chaya Dadon, who is just a teenager and risked her own safety to protect children, has called on all of us to be the light in the field of darkness. To the 15 people who died in this heinous act, you will not be forgotten. In the face of hate, violence and division, we must choose love, peace and connection.

The Hon. EMILY SUVAAL (13:54): How to do justice to the fullness of 15 incredible humans whose lives were savagely cut short in the space of just a few minutes; how to explain the sorrow, the guilt and the confusion felt as someone who has never felt persecuted, harassed or faced a threat to their life for their religion, their culture, the clothes they wear, their appearance, their family ties, or for simply being a Jew. The truth is that I cannot comprehend the rollercoaster of grief, anger and sorrow facing the families and friends of those who were killed last Sunday, 14 December—the first day of Hanukkah—at a time when they were innocently celebrating being part of what is the fabric of Bondi and Australian life. It was a Sunday afternoon in our beautiful city where some of the best memories are made, and now some of the worst and most life-changing. It was an absolutely life‑altering event. The magnitude of grief and the irreconcilable nature of the events of last Sunday make it so hard for anyone to comprehend.

To all those who have suffered the loss of a loved one and to those injured, I am so desperately sorry. I am sorry for those who have seen events that we cannot imagine and that they will never forget. And for the trauma that follows, the inevitable human element of the what ifs, the torturous nature of grief, shock and survival. I cannot comprehend the loss of a 10-year-old child with so much ahead, cruelly robbed. I cannot imagine the senseless tragedy of losing someone who has faced so much, a Holocaust survivor coming to our shores for peace and freedom and being killed in such horrific circumstances. I cannot imagine the grief of losing the best of Australian people, the best of our world, those we aspire to be, pillars of their local community, rabbis, heroes in their life and in their death. Words seem hollow. They seem insufficient, lacking, but words are still important. Our words are everything, for without them we would not be. Whether written or spoken, our words convey what our bodies cannot. When combined with our heart and actions, our words are life-changing.

We must stamp out hate and intolerance wherever we see it. It is subtle but, unchecked, it grows. It is hard to take the hate out of someone's heart. That does not mean we sit idle. While I utterly despair and despise what occurred on Sunday 14 December 2025 at 6.47 p.m., I commit to learning, to listening and to humility. Antisemitism is a scourge. Its full, most violent and disgraceful nature was revealed last week. I apologise to all our Jewish Australians for what I regard as an abject failure on my part to not fully appreciate the fear and danger they have lived in, despite their repeated attempts to tell me. It is a failure I must live with, and I commit to learning from it. I take responsibility for it. To those beautiful humans we have lost, to those who were hurt in so many ways and to those whose lives will never be the same, I am so sorry. Your memories and stories, your hopes and dreams, and just who you are have touched us all, and you will never be forgotten.

The Hon. NATALIE WARD (13:59): I support the condolence motion. It was a Sunday afternoon: a sunset, sea breeze, sand between toes, dogs walking, children's laughter, the prospect of the end of a tough year, a baby animal farm, food being shared between friends, faith being observed, Hanukkah by the Sea. There was the excitement of the first candle being lit by the Chabad community. All of that was broken by somebody who does not believe in our harmonious community in Australia. No parent should ever have to bury their child. While all deaths are tragic, there was that of Matilda. We all saw the pictures just moments before of her blowing bubbles, smiling, laughing, enjoying her family. Just moments later, she was senselessly murdered. As a mother, my heart breaks. As a wife, my soul aches, and as a sister, daughter and friend, my whole being feels their grief. There were 15 innocent lives lost. As chair of Parliamentary Friends of Israel, I feel a personal responsibility to have spoken up more, to have raised more issues, to have knocked on more doors and to have said more often, "There is danger."

From a personal perspective, I never thought the term "from the river to the sea" meant from the river to Bondi Beach. I had assumed, like so many others, that we were somewhat away from those issues, but we very much were not. This is the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil. It was an attack on Australia's way of life and on the Jewish community itself—our multicultural community, our Australia, our Sunday and our Bondi Beach. Perpetuated by Islamic extremists who seek to destroy the Australian Jewish way of life, I'm sorry to say it but, for two years or more, we have seen example after example of antisemitism in our community. There has been warning after warning. They include university students bullied and harassed, Jewish creative arts cancelled or doxed, a childcare centre firebombed, cars set alight, antisemitic graffiti, direct threats, chants on the streets of Sydney, protests each weekend directly outside the Great Synagogue, threatening drivers driving through the eastern suburbs, chants at the Opera House and Jewish people being asked to stay away. They were ignored.

There were empty words like, "We take it seriously," and, "We've got to get the balance right." They were empty words, not action. There was warning after warning. We moved motion after motion in this place. We moved for legislation. The people in the Jewish community were saying to us, "We are not safe. Our children are not safe." They said it over and over to everyone in this place. Jillian Segal, AO, Australia's Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, wrote a report, Plan to Combat Antisemitism, for those reasons. It was ignored. There is no joy from anyone in the Jewish community saying, "We told you so," but they told us so.

I welcome the motion. I welcome the legislation. But it has taken 15 lives—15 people murdered—to wake everybody up and get this New South Wales Government and this Parliament to act. As a former multiculturalism Minister, I know the importance of social cohesion. I know that it is not just words or a website; I know that it is action. In this place, we take action. I stand with the Jewish community. This House stands with the Jewish community. This is on all of us. We know that we have an obligation to ensure that light triumphs over darkness. No matter one's faith or observance, or no faith, we always have an obligation to protect every Australian citizen from these threats.

I join with my colleagues in this place to acknowledge and thank the hospital workers, the ambulance workers, and the surf lifesaving staff who should have just been doing their normal thing on a Sunday, protecting people in the water. Instead, they took surfboards to carry bodies. They responded when the Bondi community needed them. I thank the police who responded to the event, including all of those who volunteered, and particularly Jack Hibbert and Scott Dyson, who suffered injuries while in the line of duty, protecting their community as we should and as we must.

There are countless stories of heroism that have been spoken about by my colleagues, including that of Ahmed al-Ahmed, who took on those gunmen. Ordinary citizens helped, stepped up, ran toward danger and helped the wounded. Our own leader Kellie Sloane raced to help children, helped the wounded and the dying to ensure they were not alone and took a child into an ambulance and said, "It is safe here," as any mother, parent or any observer would do. We cannot unsee what was seen; we cannot undo what was done. We must act now to ensure that never again is now. We need not just words but actions.

I was uplifted with the community at Bondi last night at the Chabad community event for the eighth night of Hanukkah. I thank David Ossip, Alex Rivkin, the rabbis and all who spoke. They provided hope and were uplifting. They talked about mitzvah: doing good for others every day and having purpose in life. We joined together to sing that most Australian of Australian songs, Waltzing Matilda, watching Matilda's mother and father as they suffer through the most incomprehensible tragedy of losing their child. The 15 victims killed were Edith Brutman, who should have been enjoying her retirement; Dan Elkayam, who was just 27; the heroic Boris and Sofia Gurman, who died in each other's arms, Alex Kleytman, who survived the Holocaust to come to Bondi to die in a tragic event; Yaakov Levitan, a rabbi; Peter Meagher, a rugby referee who refereed with my husband David and who should have been enjoying his retirement; Reuven Morrison, aged 62; Marika Pogany, aged 82; Matilda, the youngest, at 10; Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi; Adam Smyth; Boris Tetleroyd, in front of his son; Tania Tretiak; and Tibor Weitzen.

They are not just numbers. They are not just names, and they are not just ages. Every one of them will leave an empty seat at their family's table forever. My heart breaks for them, for the community and for each of us. We must now step up. We must now take action. We must not hesitate to say that we will not tolerate antisemitism in any form. They are not just words; we will make sure there is action. May their memory be a blessing. To their families and friends and the whole Jewish community, I say may the omnipresent comfort you, along with the rest of the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. Never again is now. Long life.

The Hon. MARK LATHAM (14:09): Sydney is a big, sprawling city, but it can also be a small place—much smaller than one ever expects. Two Sundays ago I was at the Narellan cinema with my youngest son watching, ironically enough, Nuremberg, an epic portrayal of how those who exterminated 6 million Jews during World War II were brought to justice, hanging from the gallows on the same night of their conviction in the hastily reconstructed court building of that ancient Bavarian city. We got home at about 9.00 p.m. when Isaac checked his phone and said, "Dad, there's been a mass shooting at Bondi. Isn't Oliver down there?" Naturally, my heart missed a beat. It was every parent's worst nightmare.

My eldest son had spent a celebratory weekend in Bondi with his girlfriend, so we rang him straight away. With blessed relief, he answered. He and Alana had left Bondi Beach to come home two hours before the mayhem and the massacre had begun. But what if Ollie had said to his partner, "Let's have a walk down to the sand and enjoy the beautiful sunset? It is a reminder of how life is one long fluke—an endless series of sliding-door moments. We do not know how lucky we are to wake up every morning, still upright. There were many phone calls made across Sydney that night, and most were answered. But, with sinking horror, I think of those that were not and of the despair that every parent must feel—of the mothers, fathers, children, siblings, partners and friends who rang to check but the phone rang out, literally rang dead—for the 15 killed and for those seriously injured. For a place that had already suffered through the Bondi Junction stabbings, that community must now feel cursed. Bondi, which is supposed to project the best of Australia to the rest of the world, now sits in our minds as a place of carnage and senseless murder, a place of massacre and mourning.

What can we do and say as a Parliament in offering our condolences? Resolutely, we must offer hope, as much as we can, and belief that terrorism will not be allowed to strike again in Bondi or any other part of our sovereign land. For hope to flourish, it must start with an apology and an acknowledgement that all of us as parliamentarians—Government, Opposition and crossbench—got this wrong. The political class as a whole in our country is culpable in allowing the radical Islamic terrorism of Naveed and Sajid Akram to strike at Bondi: those left of centre who have been unable to say the three words "radical Islamic terrorism", let alone deal with it; the Coalition parties which, under the Howard Government, allowed Sajid Akram into our country from India and set the foundation for "Big Australia" immigration with inadequate security checking processes; and those, like me, who used to talk about the threat of radical Islamic terrorism but then dropped off, thinking it was futile and that the system would never change.

In the face of evil, a politician should never drop off, especially one from Western Sydney, where we know some Muslims have been radicalised by Islamic hate preachers and Islamic hate centres like the one in Bankstown where Naveed Akram made ISIS contacts and made himself an assassin of innocent people. There has been a delusion among the Australian political class that multiculturalism is perfect and that, as they sloganeered, diversity is our strength. Those are very easy words to say when living well away from places like Bonnyrigg. But not even the new migrants—the new arrivals to Australia—believe them, so often clustering in ethnic enclaves in Sydney. Quite frankly, why would they not?

A communitarian approach to politics says that without shared values, shared goals and a shared history between people, there can be no such thing as society. Too much diversity tears us apart. Too much tolerance of intolerance leads to what we saw in Bondi eight days ago. This is often described as the Popper paradox, named after the New Zealand theorist Karl Popper, who feared that Western civilisation would ultimately be undercut by its democratic tolerance of those who wish to destroy it. Popper would recognise the Bondi massacre as his theory in tragic and macabre practice. The Akrams, father and son, went to Bondi on the Jewish Hanukkah needing and wanting to be martyrs. They went there to die in the name of their religion. That is what sets radical Islamic terrorism apart from normal political behaviour and analysis.

Most movements seek to build support, to find recruits and new sources of political relevance. We have seen a big focus in recent times on so-called right-wing extremism and neo-Nazis. But, even in their madness, they do not gather and propagate with an immediate intention of killing people. They think that, like Hitler, they can feed off disaffection and create a growing support base. It is a complete delusion, of course, but that is their method. Jihadis like Sajid and Naveed Akram not only have no interest in those political processes and the normal political institutions of advocacy and argument but also detest them in their determination to destroy the West and places like this Parliament of ours. Their mission was martyrdom and sending a message to the West that no-one is safe. They will target, at any given time, the highest profile person or event they can find to teach us a lesson about their intention, their reach and their fanaticism. They are not interested in persuasion and popular support, something even the Nazis and socialists covet; they are only interested in massacre and martyrdom.

Yes, there is an overlap between antisemitism and radical Islamic terrorism, but they are by no means identical. One is a racist ideology, the other is a destructive religious dogma drawn from a literal reading of the Koran. All of us in this place have been off the pace in different ways. I express not only my condolences to the victims and the Bondi and the Jewish communities, but also my contrition. Each of the issues we have been debating this year in this Parliament in the name of public safety have been irrelevant to what happened eight evenings ago.

The Premier himself has said, quite rightly, that the first responsibility of government is to keep its people safe. In that, this Government and this Parliament have failed. We failed because, instead of jailing and deporting the Islamic hate preachers who radicalise young Muslims like Naveed Akram, we have been debating everything else: banning so-called racial hate speech; banning protests at places of worship; banning social media for under‑16s; banning Nazi symbols and chants; debating whether or not protest marches should go ahead; banning so-called neo-Nazi ideology; banning free speech that threatens, in the eyes of the Premier, the sanctity of multiculturalism; and banning gay conversion therapy. We even had a porno committee looking at bans on that—and boy, weren't they looking. We have been banning everything except for the big one that truly matters: Islamic hate preachers and the terrorism they promote.

We would have been better off listening to the residents of Bondi and addressing their number one concern in this recall of Parliament in the shadows of Christmas. As one resident messaged me yesterday, "How come the Government, at the drop of a hat, can deport back to South Africa a neo-Nazi who took part in a police-approved 20-minute protest in front of Parliament House, but no action has been taken to kick out these Islamic hate preachers in Western Sydney urging the murder of innocent people, including 10-year-old girls? And they've been doing it for years unchecked." That is a very good question. Maybe someday someone in power will answer it. That should have been our priority in this rushed recall sitting. Public protest marches do not involve the rapid‑fire slaughter of people gathered for Hanukkah. Guns taken away from terrorists simply mean they use trucks, planes, knives and poisons instead. The key objective—and surely this is the only rational, lasting message to come from Bondi—is to rid Australia of anyone likely to engage in radical Islamic terrorism and get them out of this country or, if that is not possible, get them off the streets.

I make one other observation in this time of tragedy, as someone who was in the House of Representatives in 1996 at the time of Port Arthur. Unlike that tragedy, I have been surprised at how quickly political the Bondi debate has become. In particular, what inspired John Howard to come from Wollstonecraft and Josh Frydenberg from Melbourne to so savagely denounce the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese? After Port Arthur every member of the Federal parliamentary Labor Party, from Kim Beazley down, stood side by side with the Howard Government in the difficult task of gun law reform, changes that protected the country for 29 years. This opening of partisan abuse has had consequences. Last night in Bondi the Prime Minister was booed and abused as if he had been one of the gunmen. Whatever happened to the dignity and respect of a bipartisan period of national mourning? Obviously, in this Chamber, I am not known as a huge fan of Albo, but I have more than a residual respect for the office of the Australian Prime Minister, a sentiment that those who booed and told the Prime Minister to eff off last night should reflect on.

In truth, Prime Minister Albanese has said most of the right things and discharged his responsibility to find the right balance for Australian foreign policy in the Middle East. Those are extremely difficult matters for a national leader, and he deserved a better fate than what we saw last night. This is a dangerous space for our democracy. It is not the tolerance that the Bondi community has otherwise sought. We have heard a lot of discussion about things un-Australian. I am not sure that the treatment of the Prime Minister last night was Australian best practice at all. Does it mean that unless someone is 100 per cent for the Israeli cause, their card is marked for jeering and abuse on a night of national mourning?

Personally, I have never felt so unsettled about where our democracy has landed and where our country is headed.

In this moment of despair on so many fronts, what can anyone say or do? One can only hope that the great Australian cultural traditions of resilience and fairness will push through and triumph. They are the things the two Akram jihadi terrorists were trying to destroy, and unwittingly or not, have found too many political allies post‑massacre in their horrific mission. I join with other members in this House in paying tribute to the bravery of the first responders at Bondi and the civilian heroes led by the Batman, Ahmed al-Ahmed, and passing on my sympathy in this darkest of moments to the families and loved ones of those who have been killed and injured. The solemn work of this Parliament must be to ensure it never happens again. Lest we forget.

The Hon. TARA MORIARTY (Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional New South Wales, and Minister for Western New South Wales) (14:20): I contribute to debate on this condolence motion. I recognise the utter tragedy of what happened at Bondi Beach last Sunday 14 December. It was a devastating attack on our whole community, and on our Jewish community in particular. The terrifying attack at Bondi Beach during Hanukkah celebrations has left families, first responders and the entire community grieving the loss of 15 innocent lives. The Jewish community was targeted on a night that should have been filled with light and joy. We must now all stand together with as a whole community with our Jewish friends during this very difficult time and act swiftly to make sure that it never happens again.

My heart breaks for everyone who has lost their loved ones and their religious leaders, neighbours, work colleagues and friends. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and communities of all the innocent lives lost in the attack. My thoughts are with you and with those victims. My thoughts are with 10-year-old Matilda, whose beautiful smile will be forever etched in our minds and whose family right now are going through the unimaginable. My thoughts are with Boris Gurman and Sofia Gurman, who will be remembered as heroes, trying to stop the attack before it even happened. They paid the ultimate price, and their legacy should never be forgotten.

My thoughts are with Peter Meagher, a retired police detective who gave his life trying to keep our community safe. He dedicated his life to keeping our community safe and protected. My thoughts are with Boris Tetleroyd, a loving father and husband who leaves behind his wife, Svetlana, son, Yakov, and stepson, Roman. My thoughts are with Reuven Morrison—another hero to be remembered—who also tried to halt one of the attackers by hurling objects at him. My thoughts are with Edith Brutman, a passionate member of the Jewish community who devoted her life to anti-prejudice and anti-discrimination efforts.

My thoughts are with Marika Pogany, who will be remembered as a dedicated volunteer. She devoted much of her time to helping those less fortunate in the Jewish community. My thoughts are with Dan Elkayam, a French national who had only come to call Australia home in the past few years. My heart goes out to his family and friends. My thoughts are with Rabbi Eli Schlanger, assistant rabbi at the Chabad of Bondi. He leaves behind five children, including a newborn son. My thoughts are with Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, who participated in the Hanukkah event moments before the attack and was an important member of his community.

My thoughts are with Alex Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor who tragically died shielding his wife from the attack. My thoughts are with Tibor Weitzen, a proud family man who leaves behind loving wife, Eva, his children and his grandchildren. My thoughts are with Adam Smyth, father of four, who was simply on an evening walk by the beach with his wife when this tragedy struck. My thoughts are with Tania Tretiak, a local grandmother and community member. It is understood that she passed while shielding a child from the attack. These losses will leave a hole in our nation's fabric forever. There are also many people recovering in hospital, and I wish them a speedy and full recovery.

The images of the attackers and the devastation they caused will forever haunt us. There is a shock—a quiet sense of fear and dread—that lingers over our nation. Bondi is a place, probably more than any other in Australia, that is a demonstration of the beauty and peace of Australia, where communities come together to celebrate, enjoy the sun and relax. Australia is a country built on multiculturalism, showcasing the best of what the world has to offer. The events that occurred do not represent us and cannot define us. What can and should define us is our Australian community coming together in the aftermath of this horrific attack. Regardless of race, religion, gender or any other part of ourselves, Australians have shown what it means to come together and to be Australian. This week has seen unspeakable terror, but it has also seen incredible bravery: a mother shielding a child that was not her own from the attack; a lifeguard running barefoot towards the scene, medical supplies in hand; and thousands of Australians lining up around blocks across the country, rolling up their sleeves to donate blood.

I extend my thanks to our incredible first responders, particularly the police, who do everything they can to keep our community safe, and our emergency service providers—hospital workers, paramedics, lifeguards and many more—who simply found themselves in a terrible situation on that day and did not think twice before stepping up to help. As many have before, I particularly acknowledge Ahmed al-Ahmed, who saw danger and jumped in to stop the gunman, putting his own life at risk. That is the unity that we must remember now. This past week has seen uncertainty, pain and fear and so will the next few months. It is in times like these, more than at any other time, that we must come together as a community to support each other. My deepest condolences are with the Jewish community and the families and friends who have lost loved ones. My heart is with you now. It is so incredibly important that we come together, as a Parliament and as a community, not just to do what we are here to do—offer condolences to the victims and their families and recognise this terror attack on the public record—but also to ensure that it never happens again and that we are united as Australians.

The Hon. SUSAN CARTER (14:26): I live in a house extravagantly decorated for the seasons of Advent and Christmas. It is festooned with lights, inside and out, many commemorating the Christmas story. The camels are getting ever closer to the stable in lights on top of the garage. My children are active participants in this yearly ritual, often taking the lead. Until this year it had never occurred to me that we decorate our house at Christmas, at Easter and at other times of the year with symbols of the Christian faith we share. It has never occurred to me because it has never been an issue—certainly never a danger—to live in a house bearing clear Christian symbols. It has never been a problem until this year when I heard a Jewish mother being interviewed, expressing her grief at the loss of a close friend in the Bondi Beach massacre. For us, it is Advent. For Jews, it is Hanukkah. We have the Advent star twinkling; in her house, they have the menorah in lights, brightening the night sky.

After the Bondi Beach tragedy, her children begged her to turn off the menorah to quench the public symbol of their Judaism because it made them afraid. It made them afraid that their house, as publicly Jewish, would become a target and they would all be unsafe. It made them afraid that they would be hurt, or worse, in quiet suburban Sydney because they lived in a house with Jewish symbols. Then I cried. I cried that these children felt unsafe to be who they are and to express their faith and their religious understanding of the world. I cried because Hanukkah celebrates the victory of light over dark. But last Sunday night, we all plunged into the dark. I cried because it happened in the city I love, and this massacre of the innocents has changed this city forever. I cried for those who died, for those who were struggling with the loss of someone they loved and for those who were still dealing with their wounds and may continue to do so for some time.

We all, I believe, share in the pain of the terrible loss of life at an innocent gathering at the beach. Matilda, a bright, happy 10-year-old was killed in front of her six-year‑old sister. Alexander Kleytman survived the Holocaust only to die on Bondi Beach. Rabbis and community leaders were indiscriminately killed. There is no way to make sense of these deaths, but the message of Hanukkah is the triumph of light over dark, and the message of Advent is also one of hope. It is not a passive hope, but a journey towards the light of God and a preparation, through acts of love and service, to be able to participate in the complete triumph of light over darkness. We may have thought that the darkness won on Sunday night. But even in death, husbands acted in love to protect their wives. The Gurmans acted selflessly to protect others. Ahmed al-Ahmed ran towards danger, motivated by love for those he did not know and a desire to be of service to his new community of Australia.

We should never forget the lives that have been lost, and we must commit to walk with those who will grieve their loss in the years ahead. We should support those who were wounded in the hateful attack, including the brave police officers who literally put their bodies on the line to be of service to our community. We should always remember the pain of children too scared to light the menorah, scared to be publicly Jewish in a society where we proudly claim to respect all cultures and all faiths. But we must also remember the light in that terrible darkness of pain and suffering—the light of love that was expressed by the brave actions of those who gave their lives and their safety for those they loved and for those they did not even know, and the service of first responders and kind volunteers caring for the dead and the injured. We must all now answer the call to hope and must provide hope for others.

The greatest pain of that Sunday night is not that 15 innocents and a gunman are dead; it is that we all allowed hate to grow in our society so that some members thought it was acceptable to pull the triggers on guns and shoot at a peaceful Hannukah crowd. It is that children are scared to live in a house with a lit menorah, while I can live in a house with a blazing Christmas tree without a second thought. It is that we have told ourselves we are a multicultural society while allowing antisemitism—perhaps more accurately described as Jew hatred—to fester. We cannot bring back the dead, but we can restore hope to the living. We can all be the voice that calls out antisemitism, that quiets the chants of "Globalise the intifada" and "From the river to the sea", and that creates a community where our Jewish neighbours are not made to feel responsible for events that happened thousands of miles away or thousands of years ago, but are accepted and loved as the integral members of our society they truly are.

It is not a choice between respecting Muslims and respecting Jews. Australia, at our multicultural best, shows that every day. Ahmed al-Ahmed showed it in a very practical way. It is a choice of light over dark, love over hate and kind words over hateful slogans. No law can make us turn away from hate speech, but choosing the light of this season can. We owe it to 10-year-old Matilda and her six-year-old sister, Summer, to choose the light. We owe it to children too scared to light their own festive menorah to choose the light of loving words. We owe it to students at the University of Sydney who are too scared to attend lectures because of the hostile and open antisemitism they face. We owe it to the Jewish schoolchildren who walk into class past guns that are there to protect them from hate. We owe it to those who worship at both the Great Synagogue and St Mary's Cathedral who were affected by the weekly protests with what we have to recognise as the constant drip of antisemitism.

We owe it to mothers too scared to send their children to day care in case their centre was firebombed. We owe it to a young Jewish couple who were stopped in the street on their wedding day, not for congratulations but to be spat upon by Jew haters, in Sydney—in our city. We owe it to the society we all want to build to choose light over darkness, and we owe it to the dignity of each human person—Jew and gentile alike—to choose light over darkness in every choice we make, every hour of every day. It is those choices, made by every one of us, which will bring the light back into sad and darkened lives. If we fail to choose the light, we really will fall into the dark vortex that seemed to open up under our feet on that Sunday night.

Ms CATE FAEHRMANN (14:34): I add my support to this condolence motion for the 15 victims of the horrific shooting just over one week ago on Sunday 14 December at Bondi Beach—an act of antisemitic terror that has changed our world forever. My heart breaks for the victims of the heinous attack, for their loved ones and for the Jewish community here in Sydney and across New South Wales and Australia. Before that murderous Sunday, it was unthinkable that 15 innocent people would be gunned down at Bondi Beach in an act of unimaginable hatred, some whose lives were cut short simply because of who they were, for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The victims ranged in age from sweet Matilda, just 10 years old, to Alexander Kleytman, aged 87, who survived the Holocaust. I send my deepest condolences to their loved ones, who are now living with an unbearable grief that no words can adequately address. Sydney's Jewish community was deliberately targeted on the first night of Hannukah—a time meant to be joyful. A festival of light, hope and resilience has instead become one of the darkest days in our nation's history. It is a stark and devastating reminder that the scourge of antisemitism and violent extremism does not exist only elsewhere or in the abstract. It is a growing global threat and, as we have seen, our peace-loving community here in Australia is not immune.

This attack is the deadliest terrorist incident and the second deadliest mass shooting in modern Australian history. It is also the worst mass killing of Jewish people outside of Israel since October 7. All Sydneysiders and all Australians are horrified it could happen here in Sydney, on our beloved Bondi Beach—a place that for all of us symbolises openness, diversity, fun, relaxation and community. I deeply thank and acknowledge the courageous first responders for their extraordinary work on the Sunday before Christmas. Many were out relaxing and were called in to confront the unimaginable. I acknowledge the contribution of my colleague Dr Amanda Cohn. She said that gunshot wounds are so foreign to our first responders and other health professionals, such as surgeons and paramedics, that some of them need to train overseas in the United States, just to get that experience. I also acknowledge surf lifesavers and ordinary Australians—the people who actively ran towards danger to save lives.

I listened to some of the contributions in the other place, and I acknowledge the new Leader of the Opposition, Kellie Sloane, and her courageous decision to go to the scene of the attack as it was all still unfolding to help and comfort people. So many bystanders were incredibly brave. The trauma of so many was clear to see this week, with so many people coming together and embracing each other in an endeavour to heal. As somebody who loves Sydney so much, it is extraordinary to see the symbolism of who we are and how we care for each other in actions such as the paddle-out and line-up of surf lifesavers and so many other extraordinary symbolic moments since this terror.

Of course, nothing will make it better, but in the past week there have been some truly extraordinary moments. Police officers did what they could and risked their lives to stop the father and son gunmen. Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert, just 22, and Constable Scott Dyson, aged 25, put themselves directly in harm's way to protect others and were both shot. We wish them a full recovery, but we know that poor Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert lost sight in one eye. Many victims remain in hospitals across Sydney, some in critical condition. No doubt, for many of them, their lives and the lives of their families have been changed forever. We extend condolences to the people who have been killed, but there are also those who carry terrible lifelong injuries. Many people were injured as the gunmen sprayed bullets across the park on the Sunday before last.

The horror we are grappling with cannot be separated from the long and painful history of persecution faced by Jewish people—a history marked by centuries of exclusion, violence and hatred, simply for who they are. From pogroms and expulsions, to state-sanctioned discrimination, to the Holocaust—the systematic murder of six million Jews—antisemitism has taken many forms across many eras, but its core has remained the same: the dehumanisation of Jewish people. In the years leading up to the Bondi Beach terror attack, antisemitism in Australia, including in Sydney, was not an isolated problem; it was a growing pattern of hatred and violence. I will speak more about that tomorrow when we debate the anti‑terrorism legislation. I am specifically not addressing a number of topics during this condolence motion, but I acknowledge to the Jewish community that I wish I had listened more closely over the past two years to what Jewish people were experiencing.

The shooters displayed an ISIS flag, and there is an ongoing investigation into that. Nothing has been formally released about their motive, but the ISIS flag represents an extremist ideology that thrives on dehumanising people and reducing them to symbols, enemies and targets to kill. It feeds off grievance and alienation, and it thrives on online radicalisation. Importantly, it does not represent Islam. It is rejected by Muslim communities worldwide, many of whom have been victims of ISIS violence. It is a reminder that extremist movements exploit hatred wherever they find it and that failure to confront radicalisation early, whether online or in communities, carries very real and very deadly consequences.

This terror attack on the Jewish community is so obviously an attack on all of us. It is an attack on Sydneysiders' ability to live together, regardless of our faith or background—to live freely and safety without fear. I wish to talk about one very significant moment among many. Twenty‑four hours after the terrible attack, people from all faiths—Jewish, Muslim, Christian and those of no faith—came together at the Hyde Park vigil to offer comfort, to offer prayers, to grieve and to stand in solidarity. An image was published in some media outlets of the embrace between Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins and Bilal Rauf, who is a special adviser at the Australian National Imams Council.

It was a beautiful demonstration of our ability as a nation to pull together in the darkest and most horrendous of hours and to stand up for one another when it matters most. At this time, it is so important that the antisemitic hatred of the murderous attackers is not allowed to divide us. After the events of that Sunday, it has become obvious that we have not done enough to counter hatred, racism and antisemitism before they turn to violence. Before I conclude, I acknowledge that Dr Amanda Cohn referred to the words of Rabbi Kamins, just 24 hours after the worst terrorist attack ever on Australian soil. He said:

So many in our Jewish community have received messages of love from leaders in different faith communities, from Palestinian friends and friends around this country, and in so doing, we are now learning we are all just flesh and blood, and we are also the light …

It is that light that I urge members from all sides of politics to hold onto, together with the Jewish community and all other communities who want to walk together in this terrible moment of grief. It needs to become a moment of healing that hopefully moves us towards greater togetherness, love and compassion than what we saw in that terrible moment on Sunday 14 December at 6.47 p.m.

The Hon. CAMERON MURPHY (14:47): Violence is never acceptable. It is always wrong, even more so when it is directed against a community because of who they are or what god they believe in. Antisemitism is evil and it must be condemned. This was a terrorist attack on the Jewish community. It was antisemitic and it was evil. It was also an attack on all of us as Australians. Just over a week ago on Bondi Beach, it should have been a time of joy for parents, grandparents and children. Instead, so many Australians have had their lives altered or destroyed because of a hateful act. The two alleged killers came with a purpose—to terrorise and to kill as many Jewish Australians as they could. Their objective was to divide our community, turn us against each other and sow division and hate. We cannot and must not let them succeed.

When terror comes to our community, we must respond with kindness and unity. This was an attack on the whole Australian community, but the community responded to it with kindness. In the aftermath, people donated blood, and money, and have stood in support of our Jewish community. There were extraordinary acts of heroism and bravery, including Ahmed al-Ahmed disarming one of the alleged killers and Reuven Morrison throwing bricks at one of them; Boris and Sofia Gurman trying to halt the attack before it even started; lifeguard Rory Davey, under gunfire, rescuing people from the surf; and so many others who assisted on the day. These brave people—along with police officers, surf lifesavers, ambulance officers, emergency services officers and many other ordinary members of the public—rendered assistance and saved lives. They demonstrated the very best of our community.

We must ensure that we become stronger as a community after this tragedy. The people who are to blame for this are the two alleged ISIS terrorists that perpetrated it. If we seek to blame others and to divide our community, then the terrorists win. They will have achieved the objective of this cruel slaughter. I offer my condolences to the families of the 15 victims in their unimaginable grief and sorrow. I know that many people are grieving, including my sister-in-law and her parents, who were close friends with one of the dead. We stand together in grief and solidarity with the innocent victims and their families and friends. I am so sorry that this has happened.

The Hon. NATASHA MACLAREN-JONES (14:51): Today we speak in shared grief and mourn the lives lost during the act of terror at Bondi on Sunday 14 December 2025. What happened that night should never have happened. It has shaken our nation deeply. We are sorry for what has occurred and share in the anger and sorrow. This act of terror, fuelled by antisemitic hatred and intolerance, took the lives of innocent people and shattered families and the local community. I offer my deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, to the injured and to every person who carries trauma from that night.

Words cannot take away the pain, but I hope it may bring some small measure of comfort to know that the people of Australia share in their grief and stand with them. This was not only an attack on those gathered by the sea that night but also on our Australian values of peace, freedom and respect for one another. In the midst of darkness, we witnessed the light of extraordinary courage, compassion and selflessness. These are the qualities that define who we are as a people. The quick response of the police, paramedics and bystanders who rushed to help others remind us that the compassion and bravery in our community is stronger than hatred.

Today we remember the 15 lives taken too soon. Matilda was just 10 years old. Rabbi Eli Schlanger, known affectionately as the "Bondi Rabbi", was a key organiser of Sunday's Chanukah by the Sea event. Rabbi Yaakov Levitan was a beloved coordinator of Chabad Bondi's community work. Edith Brutman was an active and dedicated member of the Jewish community. Dan Elkayam was a French national. Boris and Sofia Gurman were married for 34 years and died in each other's arms after Boris wrestled an armed attacker. Alexander Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor, died protecting his wife. Peter Meagher was a former police officer who dedicated his life to service and protection. Footage shows Reuven Morrison running alone and unarmed towards one of the gunmen to protect his community. Marika Pogany was an active and dedicated community volunteer. Adam Smyth, a father of four, was walking on Bondi Beach with his wife when the attack occurred. Boris Tetleroyd died protecting his son. Tania Tretiak was attending Hanukkah with her husband. Tibor Weitzen, aged 78, was a cherished member of the Chabad Bondi synagogue.

Each of these names carries a story, and together they represent the diversity of our community. I also acknowledge the horror of that evening when ordinary people did extraordinary things. Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43‑year-old father and fruit shop owner, ran towards the gunfire and tackled a gunman from behind, wrestling away his weapon. He suffered serious gunshot wounds and now faces a long recovery. Jessica, an expectant mother, shielded a three-year-old girl with her own body as bullets tore through the crowd and repeated the words, "I've got your daughter," until the shooting stopped. A 14-year-old girl, Chaya, heard a mother screaming for help and used her own body as a shield to cover two children. She was shot in the leg but refused to move until they were safe.

These heroes do not ask for accolades. They are neighbours, parents and teenagers. They are ordinary Australians who, when faced with true horror, showed bravery and acted selflessly by choosing to protect others ahead of themselves. Their actions sit alongside the professionalism and bravery of the police, paramedics, health workers and surf lifesavers whose rapid response prevented an even greater toll and who brought order to chaos. Detective Senior Constable Cesar Barraza was among the first to confront the attackers. He is a Bondi-based detective who fired from about 40 metres away to stop one of the murderers and prevent further loss of life. Two other officers, Constable Scott Dyson and Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert, were seriously injured in the exchange of fire and remain in hospital. It is a stark reminder of the risks the Police Force faces when doing its job.

We mourn together, and we also stand firm together. Terror seeks to divide us and make us fearful of one another. We cannot allow it to succeed. The terrorist attack on 14 December was directed at the Jewish community gathered to celebrate Chanukah by the Sea. It was an attack on our national values, and Australians have responded by standing in solidarity with the Jewish community. Here in Australia, we remain resolute in defending our diversity, democracy and belief that every person deserves safety and dignity. What happened at Bondi should never have happened.

Today is not the day to examine how this horrific attack was allowed to happen. That debate and examination will come in due course. This condolence motion is a time for the Parliament to extend its greatest sympathy to the Jewish community, the victims and their loved ones, and the Bondi community. It is a time to extend our heartfelt thanks to the first responders, emergency services, health workers and community members who have shown such humanity in the aftermath of this tragedy. Let us remember the victims by name and in spirit. Let their memory strengthen our shared commitment to a future free from violence and hatred. May they rest in peace, and may their loved ones find comfort in the compassion of our nation.

The Hon. MARK BUTTIGIEG (15:02): My heart goes out to all the victims of Sunday 14 December, a date that will go down in history as a day that changed forever the Australian nation as we knew it. Victimisation and targeting of the Jewish community are abhorrent, immoral and fundamentally un-Australian. Antisemitism is abhorrent, immoral and fundamentally un-Australian. I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like for the families of victims and what they are going through because of the loss of their loved ones at the hands of crazed and radicalised gunmen.

The fact is that this event will scar their lives forever and whatever we do from now on can never adequately compensate them. That is the truth. It will also permanently scar all our lives and perhaps our conception of multicultural Australia. It is a test of Australian nationhood. The reality is that if we are to maintain the love of diversity and open-heartedness that characterises the Australian multicultural social democracy we all love, then we must accept the fact that government at all levels has let the community down and, in particular, has let the Jewish community down. We have a responsibility to accept that and to make sure we do not let them down again.

Tomorrow we will debate bills that will attempt to deal with public safety and civility in the short term. But let us not pretend it is nearly enough. It will be just the beginning. In the long run we will need to accept that we cannot pretend that people will suddenly cease to be radicalised into violence and evil; it is the cause and effect that we must address, however difficult that may be. The idea that in a globalised world, in the era of social media, we can pretend that foreign conflicts and religious and other forms of fundamentalism and radicalisation will not impact our way of life and will not be imported into our democracy in Australia is simply to live in denial. Such cause and effect therefore must be accepted and dealt with in the most thoroughgoing and firm way. We must use all our resources and intelligence to identify radicalisation and revenge, and root it out at its source. To not address this would be to not honour the memory of those who passed on that fateful day.

I pay tribute to the bravery and courage of the first responders, including in particular the NSW Ambulance paramedics and NSW Police Force who rushed in to assist those who were injured, and to the hospital workers continuing to provide critical treatment to the victims at this time. I also acknowledge the heroism of Ahmed al‑Ahmed, a Syrian Australian shop owner who, whilst taking multiple shots, bravely wrestled a gun off the attackers. Vale Adam Smyth, Matilda, Peter Meagher, Dan Elkayam, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Marika Pogany, Alexander Kleytman, Reuven Morrison, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Boris and Sofia Gurman, Edith Brutman, Tibor Weitzen, Boris Tetleroyd and Tania Tretiak. Your deaths at the hands of hatred must not be in vain. We should never and will never forget you.

The Hon. SCOTT FARLOW (15:06): Our city changed forever on the night of Sunday 14 December. Our State and our country changed too. On that night I was catching up with my best man, who happens to be Jewish, and his children. We had just had dinner at a Lebanese restaurant and were joking about how on the first night of Hanukkah, an Australian Jew could be eating a meal in a Lebanese restaurant. We then decided to head off to get some ice cream for the kids at Anita in Eveleigh. At about that time we started to get the first news from his brother, who happened to be at Bondi, of shots going off.

The messages, with more details, kept coming. At that stage we did not realise that it had been a targeted attack on the Jewish community. As we were discussing what it could be, Hanukkah by the Beach came to my mind straightaway. It is an event I have never been to, but I have been to other Hanukkah celebrations from Chabad, including the one in Martin Place. I have been on the cherry picker with a rabbi to light the menorah. I have never thought that that could be a dangerous act, apart from the fact that the cherry picker got stuck halfway up and I was wondering how to get down. But I had never thought that that public display could end with such a horrendous event.

As we walked, we passed The Eveleigh function centre and what had been a Jewish wedding. It was deserted. The screen was still playing images of the wedding, and music was playing, but all of the revellers were outside on their phones, transfixed by what they were hearing and finding out from friends, family members and loved ones. Women were weeping; men were burying their heads in their hands. That, unfortunately, is the response that so many throughout our Jewish community in Sydney have felt during this period.

Last Monday I went to visit Bondi with so many others. After we had laid flowers in memory, I was speaking to one of my Jewish friends. She said that it was inevitable. Her little son, maybe about the same age as mine, came up to me and said, "If it was inevitable, why didn't you stop it?" That is the question for this Parliament and for all of us in society. We have all done our bit, but we have not done enough. I stand with the Jewish community because they have been telling us for so long that there has been rising antisemitism in our community and that something is going to happen, but we have failed to listen. My first adjournment speech in this place was about the security of our Jewish community and the absolutely untenable situation that our Jewish community lives in. Schools are absolutely boarded up and protected like Fort Knox. Our correctional facilities pale in comparison to what our Jewish community has to live with every single day.

There are security guards and checks when one enters Jewish aged-care facilities and hospitals. Jewish kids are scared to walk to school wearing their kippah for fear of being identified as Jewish. When it comes to our Jewish communal events, there are groups like the Community Security Group, or the COG. Thank God that they exist, but they should not need to. A community should not have to employ their own security community or enforce their own events with security. When this event happened, there were constant questions about why there was not more security. Those are rightful questions to be asked, but they are sad questions. It is sad that any community coming together should have to think of the security they need, not even to celebrate their faith but to exist as Jews in our society. Sadly, that is the fact of what we faced in this State and in this country. It is an absolute shame, and it is a shame on all of us.

Sadly, on 14 December we saw the manifestation of what that leads to. We saw the tragic death that occurred on that night. We saw the lives that were lost. Other members have read the names into Hansard, but I feel that all of them need to be remembered and their memories will be a blessing. The are Reuven Morrison, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Edith Brutman, Adam Smyth, Boris Tetleroyd, Marika Pogany, Peter Meagher, Dan Elkayam, Tibor Weitzen, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Tania Tretiak, and two friends of the family of my best man—Alexander Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor, and Matilda, a 10-year-old, the same age as my daughter. Matilda died tragically on that night in what was just a community event. It was just being a Jew in this city.

Sadly, we have let our Jewish people down. We need to be better as a society. Sadly, on that night, when the atrocity was occurring, two people were responsible. Two evil, ISIS-inspired terrorists were responsible. But just like with a bushfire, when a match is lit, there still needs to be fuel on the ground. Sadly, we have let it become the case that there has been fuel on the ground. I hope that the names of those terrorists will be blotted from the books of history and that they will not be remembered. But there are others to be remembered from that night. There is our NSW Police Force, particularly Constable Scott Dyson and Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert. They put themselves in harm's way and are still in intensive care. There was Cesar Barraza, who shot down one of the terrorists. We need to thank people like Constable Tayla Walsh, who has unfortunately been so falsely maligned through social media.

I take a moment to speak about the dreaded horrors of social media in this instance, including the misinformation and small snippets that have been used and abused to try to further someone's narrative. They have been used by malign actors to further their own purpose. That occurred in the case of a friend of mine of 20 years, Arsen Ostrovsky, who I did not even know was back in the country until I saw his face on the TV that night, covered in blood. Hours later, I saw this all being portrayed as some false flag attack—some Jewish conspiracy. I saw photos being pushed through social media of him having make-up applied and this all being staged. It is appalling, as it was appalling that there were there was misinformation in terms of the terrorists' background and claims about whether they were Pakistani or Indian. It does not matter. This happened in Australia. It happened because of Australia. I do not blame Pakistan; I do not blame India. I blame no-one but our rules in Australia and what we have let happen here, including this misinformation about the police and gun laws. It is all appalling.

There were such strikes of greatness on that night. There were our ambulance services, and particularly the volunteers of Hatzolah, led by Rabbi Mendy Litzman, who took our leader, Kellie Sloane, back to the scene. They rushed to help the Community Security Group, which is there at every Jewish communal event. There were those in all of the surf lifesaving clubs along Bondi Beach who rushed to give aid and protect people. Friends of mine, like Alex Polson, came back to the scene to give whatever assistance they could to help people. There were those who threw themselves in harm's way to protect their children, like Simon Sawday. Even more remarkably, there were those who shielded others' children while endangering their own lives and those of their loved ones, like Jessica Rosen and Chaya Dadon.

There were those who confronted the terrorists, including Ahmed al-Ahmed, a Muslim man who put himself in harm's way. Many in the Jewish community have said to me how grateful they were for his protection, but also how grateful they were in terms of the narrative of this event. There are narratives that it was a Muslim man who disarmed the ISIS-inspired terrorists. There was also Gefen Bitton, who rushed to the aid of Ahmed al‑Ahmed and remains in a coma. There were also those who lost their lives, including Boris and Sofia Gurman, who were the first to confront that terrorist. Those stories need to be told after this event, because they represent the best of our society.

The Jewish community in Australia has been a presence since 1788, when eight convicts on that ship were Jewish. The community was established in this colony along with European settlement, and it has been a symbol ever since. Our first Australian-born Governor-General of this country, Sir Isaac Isaacs, was Jewish. Australia has been a refuge and a place of safety for the Jewish people. This country has not had systemic antisemitism but, sadly, it has started to rear its head in recent years. One community has been targeted, and that is our Jewish community. It needs to stop. They have said to us in this House—and we have heard them through the inquiry into antisemitism—that antisemitism is rising, and they are in fear.

This community has lived in fear for so long. Six- and seven-year-olds in school are taught how to escape if there is a bomb threat. As everyone else is doing fire drills, they are doing drills for bombs. We have heard that from Moriah College. This is a community whose members have lived with fear and protected themselves for a long time. Over the past two years they told us that antisemitism was rising and that they feared for their safety. We failed to act sufficiently, and we failed to do enough to preserve their safety. Sadly, what occurred at Bondi was the result of that, and I am sorry. This Parliament is sorry.

One podcast I listen to is Call Me Back - with Dan Senor. I started listening to it during COVID and have listened to it ever since. On an emergency podcast, sadly enough, the other day, following what occurred in Sydney, there was a quote that I think is relevant for this House. Tal Becker, an Australian, said:

In the pain of this moment, the country that raised me and I love so much feels lost to me. In my imagination and through my childhood, it was the freest place I know on earth. It was called the lucky country for a reason. It feels like its luck has run out for Jews and as a direct consequence for everyone.

We in this House must ensure that that is not the case. Jewish people can make Aliyah to Israel because there is a view that there needs to be somewhere in the world that is safe for Jews, and Israel is that place. Sadly, Australia used to be that place. Increasingly, I have heard Jewish friends talk about making Aliyah to Israel, and that pains me because Australia should be that place for Jewish people. It should be that place for all people. It should be a place of safety and security. It should be a place that looks after everybody. It should be a place where things like this do not happen. They may happen overseas, but they should not happen here.

We must make sure they never happen here again. We must get to the bottom of what has gone wrong. I welcome the Premier's initiative of a royal commission or commission of inquiry in New South Wales. We need a Federal royal commission as well. Our Jewish community deserves it. We need to make our community safe. There cannot be any more whataboutism. This has been an attack on the Jewish community, and we must all stand up to it with that community. I thank everyone in this Chamber for doing that today. It is sad that the outpouring of solidarity seen in the past week has not been seen for many years because, if it had been, what happened on 14 December could not have occurred. We need to preserve Jewish life in this city. We need to preserve Jewish identity. We need to preserve safety and security for all in our city, but particularly our Jewish community. Am Yisrael Chai—the Jewish people live.

Ms ABIGAIL BOYD (15:22): It is with a heavy heart that I, too, pay my respects and remember the 15 people murdered in the Bondi Beach terrorist attack on Sunday 14 December 2025: Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Boris Gurman, Sofia Gurman, Edith Brutman, Boris Tetleroyd, Adam Smyth, Marika Pogany, Peter Meagher, Dan Elkayam, Reuven Morrison, Tibor Weitzen, Alexander Kleytman, Tania Tretiak, and Matilda, aged 10. Each of those people were loved and valued members of our community, and they have left behind children, grandchildren, partners, parents, friends and so many loved ones. The taking of each of those lives has devastated the lives of so many more, and the impact of this event will continue to be felt for generations to come.

There should be no place for antisemitism but, throughout millennia, it has consistently found a home in the dark recesses of our societies. It varies in its virulence, but it has always persisted. We are capable of doing so much more to prevent that discrimination, but hatred and division persist. There should be no place for violent extremism, hatred or intolerance in any form, but last weekend it reared its brutal head. We need to cultivate a culture of truth so we can find a true resolution to those social divisions and work towards justice. I stand in solidarity with our State's Jewish community and with all those impacted by this horrific event. My thoughts are with all those grieving, hurting and shaken.

Dozens of people were injured in the attack, with a number still in hospital. Among the dead and injured are genuine heroes: people who shielded each other from bullets; people who were shot trying to disarm the gunmen; and people who ran towards the scene to help others. Among them is Ahmed al‑Ahmed, who tackled and disarmed one of the gunmen and was shot multiple times in the arm. It is in the actions of these individuals and of all first responders and those working to help people after the attack that we see our true humanity. The acts of kindness of strangers, whether it is the people in Bondi who sheltered others in their homes in the hours after the attack or the thousands who rushed to donate blood in the days afterwards, are a guiding light for all of us as we navigate our way through our collective grief, horror and bewilderment.

We know that this attack was targeted at Jewish people at Hanukkah, during what should be a time of celebration, peace and connection. For any part of our community to be targeted on the basis of their faith is disgusting and entirely unacceptable. The shock and fear that Jewish people in our State are now feeling is profound and overwhelming. In the days after the attack, I have reached out to many of my Jewish friends. Their pain is unimaginable, and it is complex—intergenerational trauma born out of centuries of antisemitism; grief and trauma from this latest attack; and fear, hopelessness and despair for the future. They have asked me and are asking all of us for support, love, kindness, understanding and space to grieve. They ask for the time to mourn and reflect alongside one another in solidarity.

Sitting with grief and shock is uncomfortable. Not many of us do it well. We want to take action to make ourselves feel less pain, to ensure that pain is never felt again and to find even the smallest piece of positive outcome or change from the darkest of our days. We find it very hard to instead allow space for grief and reflection, for comfort and collective healing. But that is what we need to do. Some with very good intentions and others with bad intentions have too quickly turned from reflection to action.

Naomi Klein, in her book The Shock Doctrine, describes how political elites capitalise on disasters, both natural and man-made, to push through long-held agendas for which they would never get support in normal times. It is unfortunate that we have seen so many jump so quickly to attempts at political pointscoring, the spreading of misinformation and commentary designed to stoke division. At a time of widespread trauma and grief, I have seen firsthand how people who have lost loved ones in the attack and people who are Jewish themselves have been verbally abused by those seeking to fuel anger and division. It is unfathomably cruel. This is, predictably, what happens when people are not allowed to sit with their grief but instead have politicians and political media outlets clambering over themselves to crowd out the space with political opportunism. That is not what our community needs.

Thankfully, the Australia that I know and love is kinder and stronger than most politicians and the media give it credit for. Over the past week people across the country have come together to support one another. It is amongst their individual acts of kindness and strength for one another that we collectively grieve, reflect and bolster our resolve to choose peace over war, unity over division and love for one another over hatred based on race or religion. It is in those individual acts that we make our communities stronger and work to ensure that everyone in our country feels safe and accepted. Today and every day I commit to fostering that kindness and connection within and amongst our communities, and I call on all members of this place to do the same.

The Hon. ROSE JACKSON (Minister for Water, Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness, Minister for Mental Health, and Minister for Youth) (15:29): I express my deepest and most profound sorrow to everyone impacted by the terrible terrorist attack on our beautiful city. It should never have happened, and I am so sorry. There are no adequate words. Even if there were, words mean very little right now. Of course I hope they offer some comfort to those impacted and those hurting but, ultimately, there have been a lot of words, and I do not have any special or new ones to add. The dictionary of sorrow and profound sadness has been exhausted.

Since 14 December I have attended vigils, memorials and funerals. People clap politely when speakers say things like, "I condemn violence," or, "I condemn antisemitism." People clap because those statements are well meaning, but are they really clap worthy? They are the most basic statements of support. They are the bare minimum we should be offering in a time like this. Of course we condemn violence, killing, antisemitism and all forms of hate. To be honest, all of us would have said—and did say—those things weeks and months ago, but clearly those well-meaning words did not mean very much, because the Bondi Beach massacre still happened on our watch. As a Parliament, we should recognise that. It is heartening to hear people continue to indicate that they support using the full force of our legislative and leadership powers to do something, so we should.

In my portfolio area, that looks like immediate and lasting mental health support for everyone impacted, in whatever form they choose, for however long it takes. I will make sure it does not slip into the fog of passing time. The long-lasting mental and emotional needs will remain a present priority. Bondi is my home. I was born there, and I grew up there. Terror struck metres from my primary school and where my dad still lives today. I am devastated that it has become a place of pain and hurt. I am in awe of the power and determination of the Jewish people who have led others to reclaim this place as one of peace and hope and light to tell these terrorists, "We are going nowhere." I thank Jewish Australians for standing up for this place I love, and for inviting other Australians to stand with them. I will certainly be doing that.

Bondi is my place, but it is not just my place. Thousands and thousands, and probably more, claim a piece of Bondi as their own—perhaps all Australians, it is that iconic. My brother-in-law Huw Crosby was there with his kids that Sunday afternoon. Bondi is his place too, where he would choose to take his family on a hot summer evening. He is a police officer, but he was off duty on the day. He hid his kids and ran towards the chaos. He held together the bullet wounds that had ripped open the shoulder of Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert and carried him to an ambulance and the careful care of paramedics.

I am very proud of Huw, as hundreds, or probably thousands, of Sydneysiders are proud of their family member or friend who was there, who helped, who did something. The Leader of the Opposition is among those of whom we should all be very proud. If we are going to use these words, let us make sure that we use the majority of them to talk about these incredible people and not the terrorists. Let us erase their names and not centre their narrative. Let us place our heroes and those beloveds that we lost on a pedestal at the heart of the story of that night. May their memory be a blessing.

The Hon. CHRIS RATH (15:32): For the Australian Jewish community, 14 December 2025 is a date that should have been remembered as a night of joy. It should have been a night when, as the message of Hanukkah reminds us, light should have overcome the darkness even after months of horror. However, that is not what that date will be remembered for. Instead, it will forever be remembered as one of the darkest moments in Australian Jewish history. It will be remembered for the cold-blooded murder of 15 innocent lives and for countless other lives shattered at the hands of radical Islamic terrorism. Instead it will be remembered as a day when the social fabric of Australia, our way of life and everything we pride ourselves on as a nation came under attack. For those who were killed at Bondi, we mourn. We mourn lives taken far too soon in a place that should have been safe, during a moment that should have been joyful. We mourn not only the individuals we lost but also the empty spaces they have left behind at family dinner tables, in places of worship and in the quiet routines of everyday life.

The message of Hanukkah is that even in the darkest of moments, the light shines. Those terrorists could not extinguish the courage of Ahmed Al Ahmed, who ran straight at a gunman to protect others, or the bravery of Boris and Sofia Gurman, who disarmed a killer and saved lives before being executed themselves. They could not silence the strength of the first responders, who ran toward danger to save their fellow Australians. They could not put out the light of the Bondi community, who, even in the face of horror, have stood with one another, grieved together and refused to be broken. Let history record that the terrorists failed. The light of the Jewish community and the light of the Australian people endures. Even in the darkest of moments, the light will continue to shine.

However, it seems that there is a great paradox in what we have seen unfold. No-one hoped for the atrocity that occurred that night, yet many saw it coming. The writing has been on the wall time after time, especially since October 7. Why were supporters of a terrorist organisation allowed to celebrate October 7, a day of massacre, on the steps of the Sydney Opera House while Jewish Australians were told to stay quiet or stay at home? Why were hate preachers allowed to celebrate and encourage the murder of Jews while Jewish families wondered if it was safe to send their children to school each day? Why did so many Jewish students at the University of Sydney opt to take online classes because they feared for their safety on campus, all while those sympathetic to the vile hatred that caused the events at Bondi and inspired by Hizb ut-Tahrir were allowed to stay encamped on the front lawn? Why were Jewish shops, synagogues and childcare centres firebombed and vandalised while Jewish Australians were left to feel like sitting targets?

The time for tough talk is over. The time for action has come. The Government must draw an unequivocal line under legitimate protest and the glorification of terrorism. There can be no tolerance for rhetoric that celebrates violence and excuses extremism. That line must be drawn clearly, publicly and consistently, and it must be drawn now. The public display of terrorist flags and symbols must be prohibited. They do not represent protest or free expression. They represent intimidation, glorification of violence and allegiance to terror. We cannot undo the horror of 14 December but, from this moment forward, this Parliament owns the duty to ensure that no Australian is ever again targeted for who they are or for what they believe.

The Hon. TAYLOR MARTIN (15:37): We come together today eight days after the unimaginable horror that unfolded at Bondi Beach on the evening of 14 December 2025, at what should have been a place of light and celebration on the first night of Hanukkah. What should have been a moment of unity and hope became a scene of unthinkable hatred, as an extremist, Islamic State-inspired terrorist attack stole 15 precious lives and profoundly and permanently wounded dozens more, physically and mentally. The attack has stolen the innocence and peace that the shores of Bondi, the city of Sydney, our State and our nation should be able to take for granted, but no longer can. I wish to express my condolences to the friends and families of those who were tragically murdered at Bondi Beach. No words spoken here today can ease the pain of such a loss. I hope those friends and families know that they do not grieve alone. The whole country stands with them.

The attack was not just an assault on individuals. It was an assault on our shared values, on tolerance, on diversity and on the right to gather freely and celebrate without fear. It targeted the Jewish community deliberately during a festival of light in a nation that prides itself on fairness, mateship, tolerance and equity. Yet, in the face of this darkness, we have seen overwhelming light: the heroism of bystanders who risked their lives to help, the swift response of first responders, the outpouring of support from across Australia and the world, and the unbreakable spirit of the Jewish community in Bondi and beyond. Hanukkah teaches us all that a small flame can overcome great darkness. Today, we commit to carrying that flame forward through stronger action against antisemitism, a very specific from of prejudice against Jewish people as individuals or as a group. We must all come together as Australians to protect other Australians and guests here in our country. No-one should feel unsafe here. Our public spaces must be made safe again for all. How we do that exactly is a topic for debate for other days, beginning tomorrow in this place.

Bondi Beach is not a place that we want remembered or known for this terrorist attack. Bondi Beach is an iconic, famous place for very good reason. It is the place where we take visitors to our country. It is where families gather, where friendships are formed, where memories are made and where so many visitors come and are welcomed—as they always have been and should be. That is exactly what was happening in the early evening of 14 December. We mourn with the victims and their families. We memorialise those who were taken too soon by remembering who they were beyond this tragedy. They were parents, children, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Their lives mattered, and they will never be forgotten. I also acknowledge the first responders and members of the public who acted in moments of fear and confusion. Their courage, compassion and professionalism reflect the very best of our shared values.

In times of crisis, Australians look out for one another, and that spirit was evident in the aftermath of this attack. Police, ambulance, local firies and the SES were there to help within minutes, if not seconds. NSW Health staff and other medical professionals—some of whom were my family members—were there when the victims were rushed into emergency and ICU wards in local hospitals. Surf lifesavers that were on the scene provided immediate care. Ordinary Australians and visitors instinctively leapt into action to assist everyone on the scene and even in the hours and days after to donate much-needed blood.

Moments like this test us. They test our resilience, our sense of safety and our faith in the future. But they also remind us of the importance of our community, of offering help and of choosing kindness even when it feels hardest. In the days ahead, there will be time for reflection and for difficult conversations—particularly tomorrow, as we carry out our responsibilities as legislators in this place to do what we can in the immediate aftermath to address some of the gaps in our laws. This afternoon, however, our focus must be on care—caring for those who are hurting and supporting those who are grieving. In my time in this Chamber over the past eight years, I have been reminded time and time again that Sydney is really just a big small town. What happened in Bondi is not some abstract event overseas on our television screens, social media feeds or newspapers; it has touched every single one of us—some directly and some maybe just by one degree.

I extend my deepest condolences to the friends and families who are grieving beyond belief today. We stand with them and commit to supporting the community throughout the days, months and years ahead. As is said around the world, never again—not as a reference to history, but as a reiteration that we must be eternally vigilant to these threats and never ever again complacent.

The Hon. BOB NANVA (15:43): Who would not have wanted to be at Bondi Beach on a peaceful Sunday afternoon? For the crowd gathered at Chanukah by the Sea, it would have been a moment of togetherness, a beautiful synthesis of community and nature. The actions of two men turned that perfect moment into a nightmare, a horror landscape of death, pain and panic. Over the past week we have come to learn—through the media and through contributions in this place today—a little about the people whose lives were lost. We have also learned about many of the injured and the heroes who put their own lives on the line to protect others. Today we can only scratch the surface. There are many more stories of tragedy, despair and heroism that are still yet to be told. We owe it to all of those involved and all of those directly impacted by the Bondi massacre to listen to their stories and to give them our love and support.

It is important that we listen to the full story, not just the fragments that we are prepared to hear. Many of those who have spoken so far have told us about a sharp increase in hatred towards the Jewish community over the past three years. This is not just a rise in hatred from an extremist fringe, but a general rise in the temperature of racism and bigotry across Australian society. They have spoken about the feeling of being outsiders in their own country and of living in fear that something like this could happen. Their stories are hard to listen to. But if we do not listen and if we do not accept the reality of what has just happened, then those fears will only spread, undermining one of the enduring values that has made modern Australia the success that it is.

I have previously spoken in this place about the miracle of modern, multicultural Australia and the remarkable fact that people from all parts of the world, of all faiths, live so ordinarily and unremarkably as friends and neighbours in the same Australian street. It is so remarkably unremarkable for people to practice their faith openly, without fear of being targeted or persecuted. It is remarkably unremarkable for our community leaders to wander among crowds without the need for security details or for bulletproof screens. But the tragedy of the Bondi massacre must shake us out of our complacency. It must warn us that the miracle of modern Australia and its innocence is as vulnerable and fragile as it is precious. And it must inspire us to do more to protect our way of life.

As custodians of that legacy, we cannot ignore the chipping away at it by the rising scourge of racial, religious or political extremism. We cannot ignore forbearance towards others increasingly becoming the exception rather than the norm or the voices of moderation drowned out by voices of anger and outrage, where, to be heard in the din, people have to yell louder and be angrier than the next person. We cannot ignore a spiral of blame that forces people further apart and makes common ground harder to find, and, at its worst, allows some groups to become dehumanised in the eyes of others. The cultivation of outrage and blame at the cost of our social cohesion is as gratuitous as it is destructive. And if we are to respond honestly and unconditionally—if it is people on our side that are doing it—we should not contort ourselves into rhetorical knots to make excuses for it.

Because in a febrile, polarised environment, people who are the subject of rhetorical outrage or of dehumanising chants obviously begin to feel unsafe in their own city. The antidote to polarisation and to a rising tide of division and anger is not to double down. The antidote is to take a breath, to recognise and call out hatred and to fall back on our shared Australian values of respect, decency, fairness and egalitarianism—shared values that make us the envy of the world and the root cause for much of the protectiveness many new Australians feel towards their home, given the security, safety and prosperity that it affords them.

The evil of terrorism and mass murder is real. It can strike anywhere at any time, and our country is not immune. In our lifetimes we have been through the Port Arthur massacre, the Lindt Cafe siege and the murder of Curtis Cheng. We cannot forget the slaughter of 51 innocent people attending their mosque in Christchurch, by a white supremacist Australian terrorist.

After Port Arthur, the country and the Federal Parliament united behind John Howard and gave him the support that he sought to reform the country's gun laws, just as all sides of politics came together during the Lindt Cafe siege and just as New Zealanders came together to support each other and their Muslim brothers and sisters after the Christchurch massacre. In those times of crisis, political leaders did the right thing and put the national interest first. Now, in this time of crisis, it is up to us to show maturity and leadership, to resist the temptation of politics, to confront and overcome prejudices, to work together in the interests of our common humanity and to honour the legacy of 15 innocent people who were killed senselessly on Bondi Beach on 14 December.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me.

He restores my soul.

He guides me along right paths for the sake of his name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff comfort me.

You set a table before me in front of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life.

I will dwell in the house of the Lord for endless days.

The next psalm that Walt drew to my attention is Psalm 30. He chose this one because it expresses the transformation of the act of mourning into joy, reminding us that pain can be turned into a new beginning. It is a song for the dedication of the temple, of David:

I praise you, LORD, for you raised me up

and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.

O LORD, my God,

I cried out to you for help and you healed me.

LORD, you brought my soul up from Sheol;

you let me live, from going down to the pit.





Sing praise to the LORD, you faithful;

give thanks to his holy memory.

For his anger lasts but a moment;

his favour a lifetime.

At dusk weeping comes for the night;

but at dawn there is rejoicing.





Complacent, I once said,

"I shall never be shaken."

LORD, you showed me favour,

established for me mountains of virtue.

But when you hid your face

I was struck with terror.

To you, LORD, I cried out;

with the Lord I pleaded for mercy:

"What gain is there from my lifeblood,

from my going down to the grave?

Does dust give you thanks

or declare your faithfulness?

Hear, O LORD, have mercy on me;

LORD, be my helper."





You changed my mourning into dancing;

you took off my sackcloth

and clothed me with gladness.

So that my glory may praise you

and not be silent.

O LORD, my God,

forever will I give you thanks.

The next one is Psalm 91. Walt told me that it is typically recited seven times during the funeral procession from the hearse to the gravestone:

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,

who abide in the shade of the Almighty,

Say to the LORD, "My refuge and fortress,

my God in whom I trust."

He will rescue you from the fowler’s snare,

from the destroying plague,

He will shelter you with his pinions,

and under his wings you may take refuge;

his faithfulness is a protecting shield.

You shall not fear the terror of the night

nor the arrow that flies by day,

Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness,

nor the plague that ravages at noon.

Though a thousand fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

near you it shall not come.

You need simply watch; the punishment of the wicked you will see.

Because you have the LORD for your refuge

and have made the Most High your stronghold,

No evil shall befall you,

no affliction come near your tent.

For he commands his angels with regard to you,

to guard you wherever you go.

With their hands they shall support you,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You can tread upon the asp and the viper,

trample the lion and the dragon.





Because he clings to me I will deliver him;

because he knows my name I will set him on high.

He will call upon me and I will answer;

I will be with him in distress;

I will deliver him and give him honour.

With length of days I will satisfy him,

and fill him with my saving power.

I have two more contributions. The first is Psalm 121:

A song of ascents.





I raise my eyes toward the mountains.

From whence shall come my help?

My help comes from the LORD,

the maker of heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to slip;

or your guardian to sleep.

Behold, the guardian of Israel

never slumbers nor sleeps.

The LORD is your guardian;

the LORD is your shade

at your right hand.

By day the sun will not strike you,

nor the moon by night.

The LORD will guard you from all evil;

he will guard your soul.

The LORD will guard your coming and going

both now and forever.

The final prayer is one that I was not aware of until Walt informed me. It is a Kaddish mourning prayer, which is traditionally recited in the memory of the dead, although the actual prayer does not mention death. I will conclude by reciting the English translation of it:

Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world

which He has created according to His will.





May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days,

and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon;

and say, Amen.





May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.





Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honoured,

adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He,

beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that

are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen.





May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us

and for all Israel; and say, Amen.





He who creates peace in His celestial heights,

may He create peace for us and for all Israel;

and say, Amen.

The Hon. WES FANG (17:04): I associate myself with the condolence motion moved in this House today. It is with a level of appropriateness that I follow the Hon. Greg Donnelly and the Hon. Robert Borsak, because it was to the Hon. Walt Secord that my thoughts first turned when I found out that there was an attack on Jews in Bondi. Hearing from Walt on the weekend was heartening, although I appreciate the pain that he and Julia are feeling at the moment. When I decided to contribute to debate on this condolence motion, I thought about how I could best express what has occurred in terms that communicate how I feel. The Hon. Robert Borsak spoke clearly about how his father felt about this country as an immigrant, and that is exactly how it was best framed for me. My father came to this country as an immigrant and was a part of the very best of our multicultural society in Australia.

From the time that I was born, I have always known two things about Australia: We are the lucky country, and we are a very successful multicultural society. That was somewhat shattered on Sunday 14 December, when 15 lives were taken. We grieve for those lives. We honour the heroes—those fallen, surviving and recovering—who fought to defend the multicultural society that is Australia. Having listened to contributions made to debate on the condolence motion today, I make one point. A number of people have said that we have failed—this Parliament has failed and this Government has failed. I understand that and perhaps that is true. But, ultimately, we must remember that this was an act of two people who tried to divide and threaten the community and multicultural society of Australia.

We should not entirely take responsibility for their actions. Those gunmen need to own what they did. In the future, we can ensure that the antisemitism that was growing in the community not only is stamped out but is never allowed to reach that level again. Whilst there is guilt among members of Parliament—that is apparent from the contributions today—we cannot take on the guilt of the perpetrators of the event and absolve them for their actions. With those brief reflections, I commend the condolence motion to the House. I hope that all those who have been hurt by this absolute tragedy have some path to recovery. I hope that this condolence motion can help with that healing, knowing that the thoughts of all members of this Parliament are with those victims, today and into the future.

The Hon. PETER PRIMROSE (17:10): I join with the words and sentiments expressed by all of my colleagues during debate on this condolence motion this afternoon. It never fails to amaze me when members, largely free of the constraints of politics, can actually express their real feelings in this place. I think the debate today has shown that as well. Tomorrow is the day when we will have discussions about politics. Today members have expressed genuine condolence, emotion, views, sympathy and personal experiences. It is always very moving and inspiring when that happens in this place.

Many members spoke about the issue of light versus darkness that is reflected in traditions and sentiments going back many millennia, including in the Psalms quoted by the Hon. Greg Donnelly. It strikes me that the issue of light is particularly common to many of these views. We have electric lights today, but many of our events, functions and religious celebrations include candles of some sort. Candles or flames are used in functions for Diwali, Christmas, Ramadan and Hanukkah, as many members have mentioned today. Each involves the idea of candlelight dispelling darkness.

At a Diwali function held in this place a few years ago, the High Commissioner of India to Australia mentioned that a candle is something which dispels light and that you can light someone else's candle from your candle. It will take nothing away from you but it will move the light out and then that person can light another candle. This will start to dispel the darkness without detracting from you in any way, shape or form. I was really moved by that metaphor, and I kept thinking about it during the contributions from members today. Sympathy is the emotion of sadness. Condolence is the action you take during the period of grief. Whatever happens from now on, not only in this place tomorrow but more generally, I urge all members to think about the value of lighting that candle and promoting the light, because that is our job from now on.

The Hon. MARK BANASIAK (17:14): There are no words that will fill the hole that was created on Sunday. Nothing can completely mend what has been done to families, friends, the community and our nation. Many of us instinctively know that, and yet we all still struggle to search for words to express it. Ultimately, we settle for "sorry", which does not seem good enough. Many say that it is the action shown by people and communities after loss that can help. It does not eliminate the pain but it helps us all carry on. For some of us, it buries it deeper so that we can get through a day or a week without falling apart.

The hardest times are when people are left to their quiet house after the funerals and wakes are done and after everyone has said sorry again. To all those people who are close to the family and friends of the victims of the horrific terrorist attack, I say this: As weeks become months and months become years, people move on with their lives, but we must not forget those who have not moved on. We must not abandon them to their pain or leave them to the hell of that quiet house. I am truly sorry for the families and friends of the victims and for the broader Jewish community. This atrocity should never have happened on Australian soil.

After the tragic events on 7 October, many members said sorry to the Jewish community of New South Wales and greater Australia. I am still sorry. I am sorry that some members of this Parliament refused to hear the stories of pain, angst and fear that the community was experiencing. I am sorry that some members chose to attack and criticise members of the Jewish community, simply because of their faith. I am sorry that some members chose to stand alongside those who were mocking the pain and suffering of the Jewish community rather than standing with them.

I am sorry that some members failed to take their concerns about personal safety and wellbeing seriously or to act on them. The institution that we call the people's Parliament has ultimately failed the people. I am sorry that governments of all levels have failed them in this regard. In the coming days, this Government will take action to pass legislation while people are still grieving, going through surges of emotions, feeling rightfully angry and seeking answers. The legislation will do nothing to address the aforementioned failures, poor choices or poor leadership of some members. They remain unaddressed.

Nothing will be done to make people feel safe or to keep any of us safe. For that, I am most profoundly sorry. But sorry does not cut it, because it is just a word. It is the action we take that is important. As long as I remain in this privileged position, I will use it to ensure that all those who played a hand in facilitating this deliberate, intentionally planned and abhorrent act of terrorism are held accountable for their actions. That includes inactions, failures, incompetence and professional negligence. That is my job. More importantly, that is the action I pledge to the Jewish community and the wider Australian community.

The Hon. COURTNEY HOUSSOS (Minister for Finance, Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement, and Minister for Natural Resources) (17:45): It is three days before Christmas. This is usually a time of joy and happiness spent with family and loved ones, but we are here to fulfil our responsibility as elected public officials because of the horror and tragedy of the events that occurred on Sunday 14 December on Bondi Beach, just over a week ago. I too extend my deepest sympathies to the victims of this attack—the worst terror attack in our State's history—and to their families and loved ones, who are grieving. Others have listed the names of the 15 innocent lives lost in that terror attack and rightfully told their stories: stories of how they lived their lives, not just how they died. We will remember the stories of lifetimes of generosity, resilience and courage, of giving back to families and communities, and of bringing joy and light even to their final moments.

This terror attack has understandably shaken our Jewish community to its core. To be so brutally targeted as they came together to celebrate their faith and their festival of light is almost impossible to comprehend, with an attack on both children and the elderly. But I genuinely hope they gain some measure of comfort from the way the Australian community has sought to wrap itself around them as they process their grief individually and collectively. In those initial moments there were some who, upon hearing gunfire, ran towards it. Some are trained to do so—our dedicated New South Wales police, paramedics and first responders—but so many ordinary Australians did too, out of instinct. In the days following there were long lines of Australians waiting patiently outside blood banks to show their solidarity and support, and others brought flowers to the huge impromptu memorial at the Bondi Pavilion.

In just one of so many powerful displays of unity, I was fortunate to attend an event with our Greek Orthodox archbishop and other Greek members of Parliament who prayed together with local rabbis, reciting psalms for the victims and their families. Last night thousands of us congregated at Bondi so we could support the Jewish community to light the last candle of Hanukkah after they could not light the first. It was a truly extraordinary moment to stand in the pelting rain, singing together, "I am, you are, we are Australian." Our response will not end here. We must continue to support our Jewish community and take action to affirm that we are all bound together with common Australian values of respect, tolerance, freedom and safety.

Our schools and early learning centres sit at the heart of our communities, and many have been profoundly affected. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the leadership of Principal Lisa Haller and the staff, students and families of La Perouse Public School, who have wrapped their arms around the family of Matilda, the youngest victim at just 10 years old. It is an unthinkable tragedy for parents to bury a child, let alone a child named in honour of the promise of our great country.

I also acknowledge Debbie Brandon and the other leaders at Bondi Beach Public School, and the many educators, counsellors and support staff who, while carrying their own grief, helped children feel safe, answered questions with no easy answers and provided care in the face of trauma. Their work is quiet, but it is extraordinary and it will continue. In the days that followed the attack, additional counselling and support were put in place for schools and early learning centres across Sydney. Crisis and counselling services were made available not just to students but also to educators and early childhood staff. Guidance materials were shared to help families navigate conversations no parent ever expects to have.

We must navigate this together. It was an horrific attack on the Jewish community, but such a senseless act of violence at the iconic Australian location of Bondi Beach has reverberated across our whole community. As a government and as a parliament, we have a responsibility to shape how we respond. The Premier has acknowledged that we have failed to keep our people safe—our foremost responsibility as a government. We will take actions in the days, weeks and months ahead in a range of ways, including to address the modern manifestation of the ancient antisemitic hatred that led to the attack.

The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, "Day by day, what you choose, what you think and what you do is who you become." As we step forward out of this immense tragedy of the worst terrorist attack in our State's history, let us be inspired by those—united by humanity irrespective of religion—who showed great heroism in the face of horrifying violence and hatred. Let us be inspired by those who ran towards the gunshots, who fought with their bare hands or with bricks to protect others and who used their bodies to shield children from gunshots. I refer to Chaya, an incredible teenager, who called upon us all last night to be the light in the field of darkness.

I have reflected often on that lesson of Hanukkah this past week—of the victory of lightness over dark. I have also reflected on the importance of community and of coming together with common purpose. I have reflected on how central it is, as a person of faith, to be able to celebrate together. In these precious days before Christmas and beyond, as a government and as a parliament, we must come together to find a way to allow our whole community—especially our Jewish community—to be able to do that safely once again.

The PRESIDENT: Before I call the Hon. Tania Mihailuk, I inform members, particularly those not in the Chamber, that there are two more speakers: the Hon. Tania Mihailuk and the Leader of the Government. The Deputy Leader of the Government will then have the opportunity to speak in reply. There will then be a vote on the motion.

The Hon. TANIA MIHAILUK (17:52): There are moments in a nation's life that become fixed in our collective memory that are so confronting and so tragic that time itself appears to divide into a clear before and after. Last Sunday evening, 14 December at 6.47 p.m. on Bondi Beach is now one of those moments for Australia. As we have heard from the many moving contributions in relation to the catastrophically tragic events at Bondi just over a week ago, it is now certain that the date of 14 December 2025 will be forever remembered as the day Australia's national psyche was irreparably scarred. It is with the deepest of regrets that we must all admit that two Sundays ago Australia's dream of a cohesive, harmonious, multicultural society was shattered with each and every bullet that horrifically rang out across the iconic shores of Bondi Beach, with the heinously reprehensible aim of executing the Jewish community.

What unfolded that night was an act of terrorism. It was targeted, ideological and antisemitic. Jewish Australian families were attacked as they gathered peacefully to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah, one of the most sacred and joyful observances in the Jewish calendar. In a place associated with celebration, community and safety, violence driven by hatred was deliberately inflicted. In doing so, the attack tore a wound through families, through the Jewish community and through the conscience of our nation. The impact of this atrocity will be enduring. It will leave a profound scar on Australia, borne most heavily by parents who lost children, by children who lost parents, by survivors whose lives have been permanently altered and by a Jewish community once again confronted with the reality that antisemitism can erupt in moments of faith and joy. That scar will endure across generations, shaping how Australians remember this tragedy and how we respond to the threat of extremism in our midst.

I offer my sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the Jewish Australian community. This Parliament has a solemn duty to honour those who were murdered, to stand unequivocally with Jewish Australians and to recognise that the freedoms we cherish can never be taken for granted. The victims were Matilda, Peter Meagher, Tibor Weitzen, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Alexander Kleytman, Dan Elkayam, Reuven Morrison, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Marika Pogany, Boris Gurman, Sofia Gurman, Edith Brutman, Boris Tetleroyd, Adam Smyth and Tania Tretiak. They were faith leaders, volunteers, parents, community heroes and a Holocaust survivor. These 15 victims were murdered at the Chabad-Lubavitch of Bondi's Chanukah by the Sea event. Many of those killed and injured were members of Sydney's Jewish community who had migrated from the former Soviet Union—including Russia and Ukraine—seeking safety, freedom, opportunity and the ability to practice their faith without fear. That such lives were taken in Australia, a country they regarded as a refuge, makes this attack even more devastating.

Perhaps the most devastating death of them all was Matilda, who was only 10 years of age. A former student of Harmony Russian School of Sydney and La Perouse Public School, her parents, Valentina and Michael, described her as the kindest person. Her father explained that they named her Matilda because she was "our firstborn in Australia, and I thought that Matilda is the most Australian name that could ever exist". Her schoolmates said Matilda had an incredible gift for bringing joy to those around her. Her teacher, Irina Goodhew, said that she was a bright, joyful and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her. Yesterday, in the light of a darkness vigil in Bondi, Waltzing Matilda was sung in her honour. In that simple and moving tribute, Australia remembered a child whose life was taken far too soon.

Peter Meagher served for 34 years in the NSW Police Force and was also a volunteer with Randwick Rugby. In a statement the club described his death as "simply a catastrophic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time". Tibor Weitzen was a father, a grandfather and a great-grandfather who reportedly died shielding his loved ones. His granddaughter, Leor Amzalak, described him as "truly the best you could ask for". Rabbi Eli Schlanger was a father of five and assistant rabbi at the Chabad of Bondi, where he served for 18 years. His cousin, Rabbi Zalman Lewis, described him as "vivacious, energetic, full of life and a very warm outgoing person".

Alexander Kleytman was a Holocaust survivor who reportedly died shielding his wife of five decades. He and his wife migrated to Australia from Ukraine, where he worked as a civil engineer. Dan Elkayam was a French national and a much-loved footballer at Rockdale Ilinden Football Club, where teammates described him as an extremely talented and popular figure. Reuven Morrison, a devoted father and member of the Chabad community, was seen on footage placing himself in harm's way so that others could escape. His daughter, Sheina Gutnick, said, "He went down fighting, protecting the people he loved most."

Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, general manager of Chabad of Bondi and secretary of the Sydney Beth Din, was described as a vital behind the scenes pillar of Sydney's Jewish infrastructure. Marika Pogany volunteered tirelessly for Jewish senior services provider COA, delivering more than 15,000 kosher meals on wheels. COA Sydney described her as someone who carried people through their week and throughout their loneliness. Boris Gurman and Sofia Gurman attempted to stop one of the terrorists in the earliest moments of the attack. Dashcam footage shows Boris wrestling with the gunman in an effort to disarm him. Their family described them as people of deep kindness, quiet strength and unwavering care for others. Edith Brutman, vice president of an anti‑discrimination committee at B'nai B'rith NSW, was remembered as a woman of integrity who chose humanity every day. She died, despite being shielded by her friend Tibor Weitzen. Boris Tetleroyd was attending the event with his son, Yakov. Boris was murdered and his son sustained serious injuries. His niece Leia Roitour said, "His absence has left a void that words cannot express." Adam Smyth, a father of four and a husband to Katrina, was caught in the attack while walking in Bondi Beach. His family said, "Adam was a generous and kind person who will be dearly missed and is forever irreplaceable." Tania Tretiak, a 68‑year‑old grandmother, was attending the event with her family. Her husband remains in critical condition.

The loss of life would have been even greater were it not for the extraordinary bravery of first responders. I acknowledge that New South Wales police officers confronted the attackers, none more heroically than Detective Senior Constable Cesar Barraza, who ultimately stopped the threat. Constable Scott Dyson and Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert were gravely injured. Probationary Constable Hibbert, only four months into service, lost vision in one eye. Constable Dyson required surgery for severe shoulder injuries. Alongside police, Bondi lifesavers ran directly toward danger to assist the wounded and shelter those fleeing the attack. I understand those lifesavers to be Daniel McLaughlin, Jackson Doolan, Rory Davey, Lukas Street, Michael Jenkinson, Mario Marfella, Trent Maxwell, Trent Falson, Eddy Hudson, Frankie Desrets, Lindsey Lowery, Troy Quinlan, Wally Egelton and Tommy Woodriff.

More than 250 members of the public sought refuge inside the North Bondi clubhouse, including several who had been shot while attending the Hanukkah celebration. The courage and composure of those lifesavers, which many members have mentioned throughout the speeches today, absolutely did save lives. One act of heroism, of course, deserves particular recognition: that of Ahmed al-Ahmed, who risked his life to wrestle a firearm from one of the attackers during the chaos of the shooting. He sustained two gunshot wounds in doing so. His actions were instinctive, selfless and extraordinary. In the face of terror, he chose to act to protect strangers. His bravery stands as a powerful reminder that courage and humanity can prevail, even in the darkest moments.

In the days that followed, tens of thousands of Australians have queued for hours to donate blood in a quiet but powerful demonstration of national solidarity. I acknowledge not only those whose lives were taken but those who survive and will carry the physical and psychological scars of this terrorist act forever with them. The harm caused by this attack was inflicted on a number of victims who remain in hospital, some with life-altering injuries, continuing their recovery while families keep vigil at their bedside. They too are victims of Bondi. They too deserve the full support of this Parliament of the New South Wales Government and of the Australian community as they heal.

The victims of Bondi were parents, children, volunteers, faith leaders and survivors of history's darkest chapters. Their lives mattered and their memory must compel us to act. This Parliament owes the victims of Bondi more than condolences. It owes them honesty, courage and a relentless focus on the real threat, and that is extremist ideology from radical Islam that has legitimised antisemitism and enabled it to fester. We must be clear about the nature of the threat that confronted Australia that night. This was terrorism driven by extremist ideology rooted in radical Islam, an ideology that distorts faith to justify violence and the targeting of Jewish people. The sudden focus on tinkering with our gun and protest laws avoids confronting antisemitism and ideological extremism and is undoubtedly a political deflection. Terrorists operate outside the law. They follow extremist ideologies. Our law is of no consequence to them.

This attack did not occur in a vacuum. It reflects a broader and deeply troubling pattern in which antisemitic hatred is incubated, normalised and eventually weaponised. When that process is missed, ignored or downplayed, the consequence is not abstract; it is catastrophic violence. I am so deeply sorry to the victims and their families. The deaths have occurred as a consequence of inaction, incompetence and reckless indifference to the scourge of radical Islam and antisemitism. I hope that the Government's current legislative agenda is not all in vain, because you cannot eradicate the disease of radicalisation by offering an illusory and false narrative of hope that is nothing short of a mirage. To do so would be crueller than the attack itself. To the victims: May your collective memory be for a blessing. May we, as parliamentarians, honour that blessing with action that ensures that light will once again prevail over darkness.

The Hon. PENNY SHARPE (Minister for Climate Change, Minister for Energy, Minister for the Environment, and Minister for Heritage) (18:04): Sunday 14 December was an ordinary night at Bondi Beach. People were swimming, walking their dogs, meeting their friends and enjoying the beauty of what Bondi has to offer. The Jewish community gathered, as it does every year for the first night of Hanukkah, to celebrate that important moment for the Jewish community in New South Wales. As they were doing that with their families, having their face painted and enjoying each other's company, that was shattered by two terrorists in an act of vicious, deliberate and targeted violence.

It was an act of antisemitism that deliberately targeted the Jewish community but, in doing so, attacked every Australian. It was an act of violence that every Jewish person in Australia felt could have been them. We need to understand what that means. Every Jewish person in Australia—and, in fact, many overseas—thought it could have been them, because what they have experienced is the rise of antisemitism over recent times in a country of their choosing, where they thought they were well away from that. But here it is and, despite their warnings, the worst occurred. We have not done enough.

I particularly acknowledge those who on that Sunday helped people that they had never met, who they will never even know, but basically put others needs first. We all, of course, acknowledge and thank the incredible first responders, who are trained to do this work, but we hope they never have to. To the surf lifesavers and everyone who decided to shield someone from the violence that was happening around them, we say thank you. I also particularly thank those who have led the investigation into this atrocity that has occurred in our country and in our city. I also acknowledge the community leaders who have led the mourning and who, with their own grief and sense of concern, have led the community through this grief and mourning while demanding that governments do more.

Whether you are a mayor, whether you lead a Jewish organisation or whether you are a rabbi for one of your congregations, it is not something that there is a playbook for. But we have seen the Jewish community stand up together. We have seen them support one another. We have seen them reach out to all Australians and ask us to do more. They—particularly the rabbis who spoke last night at the memorial—have asked us to choose kindness over hate and to say that, overwhelmingly, we can defeat hate through kindness. That is something that we can all live for. We also give support and love to those who are injured or who have lost people. The loss is unimaginable, and their lives are changed forever.

As elected representatives we must do more to continue this work, not just tomorrow but in the weeks and months and years to come. This has been a day of reckoning that all of us must reflect on in terms of what we can do. Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Sofia and Boris Gurman, Edith Brutman, Boris Tetleroyd, Marika Pogany, Tibor Weitzen, Reuven Morrison, Peter Meagher, Adam Smyth, Dan Elkayam, Tania Tretiak, Alex Kleytman and 10-year-old Matilda—say their names, know their stories, remember their names and ask, every day, what more can we do to protect not just the Jewish community but all Australians. Because if one of us is not safe, none of us is safe.

The Hon. JOHN GRAHAM (Special Minister of State, Minister for Transport, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy) (18:08): In reply: I thank the many members who contributed to debate on the motion of condolence for their thoughtful speeches and reflections over time. I also thank the many members who have been actively supporting many members of our community who have been impacted directly by this attack. I saw for myself on Monday night at the Wellington Street synagogue in Bondi members from both sides of this House who were there immediately afterwards in the midst of grief and mourning. I thank the many members who read intoHansard the names of people who were killed. As the Leader of the Government said, it is an act of remembrance, and one that is particularly important as we consider this resolution today.

There has not been agreement on all points in the discussion. There was general and direct criticism of the Parliament and of the Government. I do not seek to minimise those points in my speech, but the unity of purpose was striking. There was much agreement across the Chamber and a real sense of sadness, hope and determination to do what we can to change what happened to our country and our State. It is very significant if we can agree in this House because it lays a foundation for us to work together. It is also significant when we cannot agree. I reject one specific attack on the Premier and say that, as a senior member of the team who has been working with my colleagues, I think that is a misreading. If any member feels that the Premier's actions are not deeply felt or that neither he nor the Government accepts responsibility, or that the Premier has not meant what he said over the past week, that is a real misreading. I therefore draw it to the attention of the House.

It is important to reflect today on the principles by which the Government will act over the next period—the sadness mixed with determination—and the Government will take responsibility for what we could have done better and what we can do better. We will also act. In the view of the Government, it is time to act. The Government will bring legislation before this House tomorrow to do so. I emphasise the point I made at the beginning of my remarks. We will need to continue to work in this space. The Government is committed to doing that with other members.

We thank members for their contributions to debate on the motion and for their suggestions to date. The Government is committed to continuing that work tomorrow, when legislation comes before this House. The Government looks forward to working with members to progress the bill. I thank members for their contributions to debate on the motion of condolence. I commend the resolution to the House.

The PRESIDENT (18:12): With the indulgence of the House, I will make a few brief remarks before I put the question. I associate myself with the contributions that all members have made in this Chamber. I extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of the 15 innocent people who were killed at Bondi Beach and to all of those who were injured or traumatised. I wish those who are still receiving care a full and complete recovery. I acknowledge the profound grief, fear and anguish felt across our nation, and especially within the Jewish community in New South Wales and Australia, in the wake of this heinous attack.

I pay tribute to the courage and selflessness of the first responders and members of the public. I pay tribute to the quiet strength of a community that has come together in compassion and resolve. I condemn hatred, extremism and antisemitism in all its forms and affirm the enduring solidarity of the people of New South Wales with the Jewish community at this time of profound sorrow. May the memories of all those whose lives were lost be a blessing for us all.

I ask all members to stand for a moment of silent reflection and to indicate their support for the motion.

Members and officers of the House stood as a mark of respect.

Motion agreed to.