Fiona Phillips (Gilmore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

At 9 am on 20 December, the waves lapped gently on the sand, and the morning sun warmed the solemn faces of hundreds of surf lifesavers who stood shoulder to shoulder on beaches right along the New South Wales South Coast and far south coast. For three minutes, lifeguards, volunteer surf lifesavers, young Nippers and community members stood side by side in silence to pay respects to those who lost their lives at Bondi Beach one week earlier on 14 December, a day that changed our nation forever. It was heartwarming to see lifesavers from 10 local surf clubs in my electorate, from Kiama in the north to Moruya in the south, come together for this quiet moment of reflection, unity and solidarity. Today, on behalf of everyone in Gilmore, I pay my respects to those who are no longer with us because of the atrocious, antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi. We will never forget the victims, their families and the heroes who risked their own lives and who worked so hard to save complete strangers during the worst terrorist attack we've ever experienced in Australia.

I want to thank all first responders, including the police, paramedics, lifeguards and volunteer surf lifesavers, who heroically put themselves in danger to protect and save others. The three minutes of reflection on local beaches was such a moving tribute to the victims and to acknowledge the Bondi lifesavers, many of whom are regular visitors to the South Coast and who came to the aid of our local community during the Black Summer bushfires. They are truly selfless and extraordinary human beings. When lifesavers around the nation held their faces up to the morning sun, they shone a light on what it means to be Australian, to be united, to be courageous and to be there for each other. I am so, so proud of each and every one of them for the courage and the incredible Aussie spirit they demonstrate every day.

I know the shock, pain and grief of the Bondi attack are still so raw for those directly impacted, and the horrendous incident certainly sent shockwaves throughout my local community. Following the attack, I attended a prayer vigil on the lawns of the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre at Nowra. A community gathering was also held at Kiama's Coronation Park. Dozens of services were held at churches right across my electorate, and people lit candles in their homes to support our local Jewish community and to mourn the devastating loss of 15 innocent lives.

Local Jewish woman Dani lost a family member at Bondi on 14 December, and she bravely, sadly, told the Shoalhaven gathering of her growing fears living as a Jew in Australia. However, with these words, Dani also said she held hope for the future. Dani said:

Hearing your prayers, seeing you donate blood and having you all come out here tonight is what it means to be Australian … The heritage of our Aboriginal people, mateship and celebrating differences is what this country is made of.

In Dani's words, 'Through the good and bad, we grow stronger together, when we come together and face it head on for each other.'

We need to strengthen our laws to protect all Australians no matter their faith, their nationality or their beliefs, because everyone should have the right to feel safe. Today, as we remember those who are no longer with us, we must vow to do all we can to ensure the horrific Bondi Beach massacre is never, ever repeated on Australian soil.

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