Emma Comer (Petrie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

On 14 December 2025, 15 innocent people were murdered at Bondi Beach in an act of unspeakable violence. They were children, daughters, sons, parents, grandparents, friends, neighbours and community leaders. I want to tender my heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones, whose grief is beyond words. This was not a random act of violence. It was an act of terrorism deliberately targeting Jewish Australians as they gathered to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah, the festival of light, and their faith. An occasion meant for joy, reflection and togetherness was shattered by hatred.

We must be absolutely clear: antisemitism has no place in Australia. It is an evil that threatens the safety and dignity of our fellow Australians. This motion unequivocally condemns antisemitism, and I am proud to support it, but condemnation alone is not enough. Words must be matched with action. The Jewish community cannot face antisemitism alone. It is a problem every Australian needs to address, and it demands a strong response.

In the midst of this despicable tragedy, there were also moments of extraordinary courage. We honour the police officers who ran towards danger, the lifeguards and first responders who acted with composure under unimaginable pressure and the healthcare workers who worked tirelessly to save lives. Their professionalism, skill and dedication embody the very best of public service. Because of them, lives were saved and families were spared even greater suffering.

We also honour the heroes of Bondi, ordinary people who in an extraordinary moment chose courage over fear and compassion over self-preservation. These were not people trained for crisis or prepared for violence. They were everyday Australians who, when confronted with unimaginable danger, acted to protect others. Some ran towards those in need, offering first aid, comfort and shelter. Others placed themselves between the attacker and strangers they had never met. In the chaos and terror of that day, they embodied the very best of our nation's values.

We also acknowledge the deep and lasting trauma suffered by those who were injured, both physically and psychologically, by witnessing this atrocity. Trauma does not end when the headlines fade. As a nation, we must ensure that survivors and witnesses are not left to carry this burden alone. At its core, this motion affirms the fundamental principle that every Jewish Australian has the right to live, work, worship and learn in peace and safety; to participate fully and freely in Australian public life; to gather without fear; to be proud of who they are and be proud of the profound contribution their community has made and continues to make to our nation's success.

Everyone—and I mean everyone—should have the right to be safe, to have agency, to worship one God or many, or to choose a different path of belief. Regardless of our beliefs, we all deserve safety and respect. Who does hate serve? Who does resentment serve? What does one hope to find at the end of that dark path? When you feed the engine of hatred, everyone you look at, everything you read and everything you feel looks like fuel.

As humans, we need social groups. We crave connection. Hate is often used as a tool for bonding, as an easy way to blame others for perceived wrongdoings in one's life. Hate is tantalisingly easy—dangerously easy. You can just blame someone or some group for most, if not all, of life's problems. There is no accountability—no nuance. It's illogical and hard to cut through. Hatred is suffering for the hated and the hater. Hate begets hate. Violence begets violence. Terrorism preys on this human desire for connection. It's abhorrent and has no place in our society.

In some ways, I believe life happens either to you or for you, and every single day you get to decide which one it is. If you are fuelled by hate, life is happening to you. You're a passenger in your own story as hate has the wheel. Love, however, is light. It adds value to life and warmth to the soul. It is a key ingredient to harmony. It requires conscious efforts to understand and be empathetic to those different from oneself. Love is honourable and love is strength, and we need to share it with those around us as we heal from this tragic moment that's forever etched in our memory.

When one group is made to feel unsafe, our shared sense of security is undermined. This tragedy has taken a toll on the safety that all Australians feel. In response, we need to have a moment of national unity and strong, decisive action. In times like this, the choice before us is clear: we can allow hatred and division to fracture us, or we can stand together in national unity. Today we are sending a clear message: we mourn together, we stand together and we will not be intimidated by hate. We honour the victims, support the survivors and continue to commit ourselves to an Australia where everyone belongs and everyone is safe.

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