Bondi Beach Terrorist Incident

Where to start in speaking to a motion of condolence on the Bondi massacre? How can words alone do justice to those who have lost their lives, lost family members or friends, and lost their sense of innocence and their sense of wellbeing and safety within their own community? Words alone cannot put this right for the victims of the evil that descended on the Bondi community on the evening of 14 December. But by being prepared to listen to the stories of those affected and by trying to understand the visceral pain—both physical and emotional—experienced by the victims and then embracing the community, we can be part of the healing.

This evil act of terrorism was aimed at our wonderful Jewish community. It was carried out by violent ideologues who showed no regard for humanity and certainly nothing but contempt for the society that had given them everything, including the resources and means to carry out their terror. They, and any who knowingly helped facilitate them, stand condemned. The eastern suburbs was already trying to recover from another heinous event that occurred just over 18 months earlier. On 13 April 2024, six people were murdered and many more were injured at Westfield Bondi Junction. The community is understandably reeling following the attack on what should have been a joyous event for people of the Jewish faith as well as their friends who celebrate Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, alongside them.

The stories describing how victims died are terrible, but the stories of how the victims lived are remarkable. The stories of lives well lived, from the oldest victim to the youngest, should warm hearts on reflection. But they also leave us with a sense of great loss for what could have been achieved, particularly by someone with so many years ahead of them like 10-year-old Matilda. Bondi has had a strong Jewish community for many years. Truthfully, I only learned of this some years ago through my friendship with a former councillor of Waverley Council, Leon Goltsman. Leon has told me much about the community he grew up in. He told me about the Jerusalem Steps, which are just a short distance from where so many were murdered.

The Jerusalem Steps have been an important meeting place for Jewish immigrants and their children for many years. The steps depart from the very centre of Bondi Pavilion and descend to the beach. This area has been known as "Little Jerusalem". I mention this to emphasise how central the Jewish community has been to Bondi and its surrounds. It remains so today. The victims of the killings will forever remain central to Bondi. I feel very grateful for having come to know many members of the community, including Rabbi Dovid Slavin. Rabbi Dovid and his wife, Laya, give hugely of their time to ensure that people in need are cared for and fed through Our Big Kitchen, their Bondi charity. Their charity and kindness epitomise what it means to care for others, not just oneself. I am pleased to have learnt more about the nature of the Jewish community through Rabbi Dovid.

On behalf of the good people of the Lake Macquarie electorate, I give my heartfelt condolences to the victims, to the family and friends of the victims and to all those traumatised by this act. Those who died in innocence must be remembered: Boris and Sofia Gurman, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Edith Brutman, Boris Tetleroyd, Adam Smyth, Marika Pogany, Peter Meagher, Dan Elkayam, Reuven Morrison, Tibor Weitzen, Alexander Kleytman, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Tania Tretiak and 10-year-old Matilda. I acknowledge all members of this House who have made heartfelt and thoughtful contributions to debate on this condolence motion.

The condolence motion of Premier Chris Minns and the contribution of the member for Vaucluse, Kellie Sloane, were extraordinary—poignant and important—due to their deep understanding of the circumstances of the terrorist attack and the need to support the Jewish community. Kellie Sloane's story is extraordinary and inspiring. She was not alone in her heroic actions. There were so many acts of bravery and selflessness to protect and help others during the event. The heroics of Ahmed al-Ahmed are extraordinary. There were many who ran to the scene to interfere with or stop the shooters, and others who rendered assistance to the injured. When general duty police, surf lifesavers, paramedics and the general public were confronted with abject evil, they were no less than heroic.

The memorial service held at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening was an extraordinary event, bringing people of many faiths—or even of no faith—together, not to condemn but to remember and celebrate those who were lost and to embrace those who remain. This evil action should be a challenge to us all that we must do everything necessary to protect our Jewish community from the scourge of antisemitism and that we should strive to confront and defeat the ideology of hate. I commend the condolence motion moved by the Premier.