Helen Haines (Indi, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the people of Indi, I rise to offer my deepest condolences to families, friends, Jewish Australians and the community of Bondi, as we mourn the loss of 15 innocent lives at the Hanukkah celebration on 14 December. I acknowledge the victims-survivors, and the family and friends who have been in the parliament today. I have followed many condolences that have been made today. I particularly want to acknowledge the member for Wentworth, in whose electorate this act of terrorism took place and who stands steadfastly beside her shocked and grieving community. I want to acknowledge our Jewish parliamentarians: the member for Isaacs, the member for Macnamara, the member for Berowra and the member for Macarthur. Shalom. I want to acknowledge the member for Chifley and the member for Cowan, who have been such voices of peace in this parliament.

The iconic beach of Bondi is a long way from the mountains and valleys and small towns of Indi. Bondi looks nothing like Barnawartha, Benalla, Boorhaman or Bright. But the 15 people so callously murdered that day are indeed just like every one of us—everyday people enjoying gathering together on a summer evening.

In Indi, our links to Jewish Australians are strong. The very first member for Indi, Sir Isaac Isaacs—a storied Jewish Australian, an attorney-general and later a justice of the High Court and our first Australian born governor-general—was raised and educated in and worked in the towns of Yackandandah and Beechworth, and we are so proud of his legacy.

In Bondi, anyone can throw down their towel and enjoy a refreshing dip. It's a place where children play, where families picnic and where tourists flock, and, just like on that tragic December day, it's a place where people gather to celebrate important events. On that night, Jewish Australians were doing just that, and it was because of their Jewishness that they were singled out. A day that should have been marked by joy in the Jewish calendar was instead marred by violence, grief, terror and the most unimaginable loss. Australians have been left shaken and confounded by the senseless taking of human life and the deep wound this event has inflicted on our shared humanity.

But, even in these darkest moments, we see the very best of our nation. At Bondi, we saw Boris and Sofia Gurman, two North Bondi locals who attempted to stop one of Australia's most deadly terrorist attacks before a bullet could even be fired, and they would pay for that bravery with their lives. We saw Reuven Morrison charge at the shooters, picking up objects to hurl at them, and he too paid the ultimate price for his courage. We saw Ahmed al-Ahmed bravely confront a gunman, tackling him unarmed. We saw 30-year-old Gefen Bitton run back from safety to help Ahmed. We saw a pregnant mother, Jessica Rozen, using her own body to shield a stranger's child. We heard about a young woman, Tash Willemsen, at the petting zoo, protecting beautiful young Matilda Britvan's little sister, Summer. We saw a lifesaver running barefoot into danger to deliver medical supplies. We saw our police and paramedics respond with courage and skill—countless others too. It was our Jewish Australian brothers and sisters and these people who I see right now. In a show of strength and solidarity in one of the nation's darkest moments, Lifeblood donor centres across the country were inundated as people sought ways to help, replenishing blood supplies used to support Bondi patients—close to 50,000 donations and 120,000 additional appointments made beyond that.

On 21 December, far away from Sydney but a few short miles from where Sir Isaac Isaacs lived and worked, I joined with people across Indi and people across our nation on a day of remembrance to light a candle in honour of those who lost their lives, to reject hatred and division, and to commit that light will overcome darkness. As I drove to Canberra yesterday, I carried with me a condolence book just delivered to my office a couple of days ago from one of our aged-care centres in Indi.

Here in this hallowed parliament of Australia, may we, as leaders in our communities and as national leaders, demonstrate that we can be a beacon of light and that we model the social cohesion we seek of our citizens—not that we shy away from the difficult and passionate debates and not that we wave through law without earnest endeavour, but that we engage with graceful intent to do everything we can to respond courageously, powerfully and decisively to terror. May light guide us all towards a stronger community, one that is more compassionate, curious of difference, courageous and kind. May the memories of 15 beautiful lives be a blessing.

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