Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Science) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to offer my condolences and those of all my constituents in Durack to the families and friends of the 15 innocent victims of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack. We all grieve with you as you begin this long journey of healing.

Sunday 14 December 2025 will be remembered as one of Australia's darkest days. This was an antisemitic attack committed by Islamic extremists, directed at Jewish Australians who came together as a community for Chanukah by the Sea, a celebration of peace, faith and hope. My heart goes out to the Jewish community, who were the targets of this attack but have also had to face rising antisemitism in Australia in the past few years.

Beyond this sickening attack we have seen far too many examples of antisemitic vandalism and hate. When the news broke that a shooting had occurred at Bondi Beach on the first night of Hanukkah, I think many Australians would have been shocked and horrified yet, sadly, not completely surprised because this has been building in Australia. While the gunmen targeted Jewish Australians, make no mistake: this was an attack on all Australians. This was an attack on our values and our way of life.

Australians have often reflected that this is the sort of thing we've come to expect overseas. We've comforted ourselves by saying how lucky we are here and that an attack like this could never happen in Australia. Like many Australians, I feel a deep sense of dread that this has happened in our country, and I am so sorry that currently Australia is not a safe haven for Jewish Australians.

Colleagues across the chamber have reflected on the victims of this terrible event. I want to pay special tribute to the youngest of the victims, 10-year-old Matilda. Many may have seen the photos of Matilda at the Hanukkah event, taken moments before the terror was unleashed, that showed the joyful girl she was. She looked to be having such a good time, enjoying the petting zoo, popping bubbles, getting her face painted and smiling with her sister for photos. Those photos paint a picture of what that celebration should have been about. Matilda's parents described her as a 'softie' who loved animals, practised judo and rarely wanted to be apart from her little sister. Beyond this, the most touching tribute came from her father when he described why they named her Matilda. At the Bondi memorial, he said:

We came here from the Ukraine … and I named her Matilda because she was our firstborn in Australia. And I thought that Matilda was the most Australian name that could ever exist. So just remember—remember her name.

It's clear from these words that when Matilda's family came to Australia they wanted to join us and to be Australian. They wanted to be a part of our culture and our way of life and to be safe.

Compare that to those who are accused of taking Matilda's life. When you have people in this country who hate everything we stand for, who are antisemitic, who aren't tolerant, who are Islamic fanatics and who refuse to assimilate into Australian culture, this is what happens. This sort of violence should not happen here, but it will again if we don't address that.

When the Prime Minister called for action in his address this morning, I agreed with him. It's well past time for action, though, and time to address the root cause of this attack. To do so, we must acknowledge what that root cause is, and that is radical Islam. We need to realise that Australia is under no obligation to import ideologies that are inconsistent with Australian values. To the contrary, we are obliged to stop this importation of hate. Let's not paper over this tragedy, pretending this was simply a firearms issue or an isolated case of radicalism. It wasn't a law-abiding farmer who was behind this attack. It was a pair of radicals—one invited in and allowed to stay, and another who was born and raised here. Our way of life, and what we take for granted, is very fragile at the moment, and that is why action is needed.

As we reflect on the horror and the implications of this terrible attack, let's also honour the Australians who put themselves in harm's way at Bondi Beach to prevent further loss of life and those who acted to treat the injured. We are very grateful to our first responders and to those innocent bystanders who acted to protect their fellow Australians. In doing so, some were injured and some lost their own lives. We must remember the good that does exist in this country and what the best of our country looks like. We must wrap our arms around the families of those taken far too early, those who were injured and those who are on the path to recovery. I thank the House.

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