Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I join everyone in this chamber in expressing my sincere condolences to the families of those who were killed in the terrorist attack at Bondi last December. As a First Nations parliamentarian, I can imagine the pain, the fear and the grief that exists for these families right now, and I share their resolve to see justice upheld. My thoughts are also with those who were injured and hurt by this awful crime and for those who are still recovering in hospital. Most will carry the trauma and the scars for the rest of their lives. To the entire Jewish community in Australia: we're all standing with you. An attack on you is an attack on all Australians.

As a nation we are still coming to terms with the brutality and the horror of what happened. It has deeply impacted our national psyche and our sense of security as citizens of this country, a safe and multicultural country. We cannot let fear, anger and distrust be the cause of further division. This is what the terrorists wanted, and it is what we must deny them.

Fifteen innocent lives were lost at an event, the purpose of which was to bring people together and celebrate the vibrance of the Jewish community. Feelings of grief for lost ones cannot be put into words by those immediately impacted. It is right to mention that the stories from this tragedy are as inspiring as they are heartbreaking—the bravery of a Holocaust survivor who died shielding his wife, the married couple of 35 years who bravely stepped forward to confront the criminals in order to try and protect others and, of course, young Matilda. I remember sitting beside my granddaughter who was the same age as Matilda and her asking me, 'Why and how can this happen in our country and at that same age?'—talking to young people and removing their innocence about what had just happened. But their stories and young Matilda's story and many others that emerged that day paint a picture of what is important and the diversity that we mustn't lose sight of and what is within the Australian Jewish community.

How do we comprehend the shooting of defenceless victims? But targeting individuals because of their religion makes the Bondi executions all the more shocking and vile. While we saw the worst kind of evil during the terrorist onslaught, we also saw the best of the Australian character. We saw bravery in the actions of the first responders and the dedication of nurses and doctors who travelled to Sydney to help with the medical emergencies. We saw mateships in the record amount of blood donations following the attack. We saw compassion from the beautiful tributes from all sections of the community. This is what our country is good at.

But we must continue to worry about the much darker elements that have emerged following this attack, especially from voices online. Rising hatred risks tearing at the seams of our multicultural society, which we have worked so hard to build. More and more, we are seeing a polarised political environment with voices of reason finding it harder to cut through. As elected representatives, it is imperative that we all work tirelessly to bring people together, not drive them apart. There is no question that the world we are living in and the fabric that underpins our community are changing quickly. We are living in a more unstable and perhaps more dangerous world than we have experienced previously. Hate speech is increasing, and we need to make sure people who incite violence are held accountable. There is an element of moral leadership which must be demonstrated by all of us. We all have that responsibility in this chamber. The work of bringing people back together is not easy, but it is in our national interest. We must expend every energy in making sure Australians come out of this devastating attack more connected and more united.

I do thank the Prime Minister for his leadership during this time and for ensuring our government is focused on national unity and tangible responses. I also want to acknowledge the local member for Wentworth for her leadership and her voice. Such an attack devastates communities, and the member for Wentworth has always sought to ensure her community is heard, seen but also held during these times.

Where we go from here is important. We must stand vigilant against extremist violence; however, simply being vigilant will not be enough. As a member of this parliament, I stand ready to work with my community on how to create a better, more cohesive society. Again, like everyone, I convey my sincere condolences on behalf of my electorate to all of the families of the victims. May they rest in peace.

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