Carina Garland (Chisholm, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

On a Sunday in summer, families and community came together to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah at the iconic Bondi Beach. This should have been a joyous moment. But darkness descended that evening on 14 December, and evil actions robbed 15 people of their lives, leaving families, communities and the nation scarred. There are survivors who are still grappling with their injuries, first responders who confronted catastrophe and are dealing with trauma, and so many friends and families of those who lost their lives who are contending with terrible grief. We acknowledge the fine work of first responders and the courage of all of those who sought to fight off this attack and protect and care for others.

We are all mourning those lost lives, and, on behalf of my community of Chisholm, I offer my solemn sympathies and deepest condolences to all those impacted by the incident at Bondi. So many innocent lives were lost: Matilda, Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Boris Tetleroyd, Boris and Sofia Gurman, Reuven Morrison, Edith Brutman, Marika Pogany, Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, Peter Meagher, Tibor Weitzen, Alexander Kleytman, Dan Elkayam, Adam Smyth and Tania Tretiak. We remember their names. May their memories be a blessing.

I remember the moment when I first found out about the horrific events at Bondi that Sunday evening. I felt shock, sadness, anger and disbelief that something like that could happen in a country like Australia—an unimaginable incident and one that we need to ensure never happens again. We need to do all we can to ensure that prejudices such as antisemitism cannot take root in our communities. It is critical that we work together as a parliament and as a nation to do this.

My own community comprises those who are Jewish. It's a very diverse electorate and we are home to Mount Scopus, a Jewish school. I stand with all in my community, and I support you. I am so profoundly sorry that this event occurred and that antisemitism has caused so much harm in our beautiful nation.

The event on Bondi Beach on 14 December was to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah and to celebrate Jewish resilience and hope—the triumph of light over darkness. We all must, as decent Australians, not let darkness take hold, and we must shine a light as a parliament and in our communities to make sure the horrific event that saw lives lost on 14 December never happens again. We must engage with one another with respect and good faith and show kindness to our neighbours. We must do all of this, as well as ensuring that we have laws fit for purpose, to make sure we can truly root out the hatred that exists and keep people safe.

Jewish Australians have long been an incredibly important part of our national identity and the fabric of this country, and they continue to be. In my community, the legacy of one of Australia's most well-known Jewish Australians is visible virtually everywhere you go, and that is the legacy of General Sir John Monash. He is the namesake for the largest municipality in my electorate, Monash council, and the local university, Monash University, where I studied as an undergraduate, and there are just so many local medical facilities and community groups that bear his name too.

John Monash's life was remarkable, and there is no question that he shaped so much in Australia and, in particular, Victoria. A distinguished military commander and civil engineer, Sir John Monash fought for Australia in the First World War and later literally helped build Melbourne as an engineer, before heading to the state electricity commission. As someone who was born in the Latrobe Valley, I can say his legacy is large there too. He knew the importance of education and community and of service to others, stating:

… equip yourself for life, not solely for your own benefit but for the benefit of the whole community.

These words are significant, I think, and cause us to reflect on the importance of unity and of looking after others.

As we approach the national day of mourning for the tragic event in Bondi, there are things we can do to remember those lives lost and to shine a light in these dark moments. We can all light candles and perform mitzvahs, acts of kindness for others, and we must commit ourselves today and every day to making sure that an event like the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach never happens again.

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