Sophie Scamps (Mackellar, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

The horrific events of Bondi on 14 December marked a heartbreaking end to 2025. That day marked the worst mass shooting in Australia in 30 years. Fifteen innocent people were killed, 40 injured and thousands directly and indirectly impacted by grief and trauma—scars that will be with them for life. On behalf of everyone in Mackellar, on the northern beaches of Sydney, I send our love to the Jewish community and our neighbours in Bondi. We send our deepest condolences to everyone who is grieving. We stand with you in grief, in solidarity and in resolve, and we will not forget.

A summer evening that should have been filled with joy has been forever etched in our national memory as a moment of profound shock, horror and loss. This was a sickening act of antisemitic violence that targeted the Australian Jewish community on a day that should have been one of hope for them and a celebration of light prevailing over dark. This is not the Australia we know; it is not the Australia we will accept. All Australians should feel safe and welcome in this country.

The day of 14 December was also a day of extraordinary courage and care, heroism and love—love for our neighbours, for fellow Australians, for fellow human beings. So I would like to extend a number of enormous thankyous on behalf of the people of Mackellar. Firstly, thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all the bystanders and first responders who put their own lives at risk to save others that day. I cannot imagine the level of relief of those injured when people arrived to help them so quickly. Our heartfelt thanks go to the police officers, paramedics, ambulance officers, healthcare workers and emergency services. Special thanks must also go to the local lifeguards and lifesavers, many of whom ran into live fire to help. Their bravery and composure saved lives in unimaginable circumstances. Thank you to all the incredibly brave bystanders—people of different faiths and backgrounds—who, against all natural instincts, ran towards danger, not away from it, to respond with courage and compassion. This is the true Aussie spirit, and you made us beyond proud.

Amongst the many incredible acts of heroism, I want to make special mention of the actions of Ahmed al-Ahmed, a Syrian born Muslim man who acted to disarm one of the shooters. Like others, he understood full well that he could be killed that day, saying to his cousin, 'I'm going to die. Tell my family I saved people's lives.' Acting out of compassion for his fellow humans, Ahmed not only saved innumerable lives that day but also helped prevent the further fracturing of our social cohesion, by unintentionally preventing the collective blame of an entire community. This is absolutely critical because, as Ali Kadri said in his article on 17 December, identity based suspicion does not make society safer. It fractures trust, deepens resentment and creates the very conditions in which violence becomes more likely.

I also want to make special mention of 22-year-old Mackellar local Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert, who graduated just four months earlier. He was one of the first police officers to respond. Even after being critically injured, Jack continued helping others. His actions were driven by an unwavering commitment to protect the community, even at great personal risk. Jack has undergone multiple surgeries and has lost the sight in one eye. Jack helped save lives that day, and all Australians are eternally grateful. Thank you, Jack, for your courage, professionalism and selflessness. In Mackellar we were all so relieved when we heard that Jack had made it home from hospital in time to celebrate Christmas with his family.

This tragedy is a stark reminder that we must actively protect our fundamental Australian values of fairness and tolerance. We must renew efforts to eradicate antisemitism and all forms of prejudice. This is a time for unity—to come together and strengthen what is good in this country and not allow hate to weaken us. The day of 14 December displayed the worst of humanity, but it also displayed the best. The countless acts of selflessness and courage showed us that light is stronger than dark after all. On that dark day of 14 December, the light of humanity also blazed powerfully.

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