David Smith (Bean, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to address the House on a subject I hoped we would never have to contemplate. Since this House last met, we have witnessed an horrific act of terrorism. At a time when Australians should have felt most at peace and in a place where they should have felt the safest, they were not. Over a period of six minutes, 15 innocent Australians enjoying Bondi Beach and celebrating the festive season were murdered and 40 others were injured. The terrorists, motivated only by hate, chose their victims because they were Jewish and celebrating Hanukkah, a festival of hope and joy. It is difficult for us to comprehend the depths of irrational hatred that led to such an act of unspeakable violence.

At times like this, our thoughts go first to the 15 victims and their loved ones, and the hearts of the Bean community go out to all of them. We think of Alex Kleytman, a man who survived the holocaust. We think of Tibor Weitzen, 78, who died shielding his wife and others from the gunfire. We think, of course, of Matilda, only 10, a little girl who had her whole life ahead of her, an innocent victim of evil.

Over those six minutes, we saw not only unspeakable violence but also remarkable acts of courage. Boris and Sofia Gurman, in their 60s, confronted the terrorists and tried to disarm them, being murdered in the process. Reuven Morrison, also in his 60s, charged the terrorists before being murdered. Geffen Bitton left a place of safety to charge the terrorists, being critically wounded in the process. Ahmed al-Ahmed acted with such selflessness that his courage has been recognised the world over. These are the names we know.

Equally worthy of recognition are the off-duty lifesavers from the Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club and the North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club who, under fire, rushed to the scene, rendered assistance and sheltered hundreds in the surf lifesaving clubhouse. I also play tribute to the police and ambulance officers who responded to the attack, particularly the police who were injured responding directly to the attack and those officers who ensured that the attack went on no longer than six minutes.

The attack may be over, but its consequences remain. As a community, Australia faces a choice right here and now. This act of terrorism should not have happened, but we can act to prevent it happening again. Make no mistake: when hate meets violence, we all lose. We have lost mothers, fathers, partners, sons, daughters, work colleagues and neighbours.

There is a pathway forward for us to tackle and defeat the evil of antisemitism, but it's not easy. It is not easy, but it is necessary. The way we'll defeat antisemitism is not to divide and blame each other; the way we'll defeat antisemitism ultimately is by removing the gaps and cracks in our public spaces where the forces of evil which lead to violence fester and grow. The way we'll defeat antisemitism is to, in the face of violence and danger, come together and unite with a common drive and purpose. If we react with fear and division, they will win. When we respond with love, with unity and with courage, then we will win and overcome this scourge.

Now is the time to remember the loss, to honour the bravery, to mourn, to weep and, I hope, eventually to heal—to come together across our communities. There is much work to be done this week and in weeks to come. This parliament has a lot to unite over.

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