Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration) Share this | Hansard source

The tragic antisemitic attack at Bondi on 14 December continues to leave a scar on our community. Over the last month I have met with families still grieving their loved ones who were taken too soon. First responders, still traumatised by what they witnessed, watched the community wrap their arms around each other. As time moves on it's important that we don't forget the victims' families, the first responders and survivors. We must continue to look after them and to provide them with support, and that's exactly what our government is doing.

Last week I joined the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention to open a Medicare mental health clinic in Bondi, established to provide free, trauma informed care for the community in the wake of the tragedy. It's located in the Junction Neighbourhood Centre, at 59 Newland Street, Bondi Junction, and the clinic is open from nine to five, Monday to Friday. Care is fully bulk billed, with no referrals or appointments needed—just support where it's needed most. The centre is part of a $42.6 million investment in mental health supports in response to the tragedy that also includes tailored mental health programs for the Jewish community, services for first responders and support for children and young people. We've also provided $2 million for Jewish community organisations to support victims' families, including $1 million for Jewish House and a million dollars for local Jewish organisations to provide community mental health triage. We've also provided $200,000 for both Bondi and North Bondi surf life saving clubs to assist with them replenishing their first aid supplies. Basically every bit of first aid equipment was used on that day.

I also want to thank local community groups for their continuing support through this difficult period. The North Bondi RSL and the veterans there opened their doors without hesitation, hosting the community hub and providing trauma informed counselling. To Chabad Bondi: in a time of immense tragedy for everyone there, you've continued to look after others and open your doors and your arms to the community. I thank my friend Rabbi Mendel Kastel at Jewish House and the team there for the support that they're providing and, of course, JewishCare. Thank you, Surf Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving NSW, for looking after the safety and wellbeing of your members, so many of whom responded heroically on that night. Thank you, Rabbi Yossi Friedman, for your tireless work in commemorating those who lost their lives for 30 days following the tragedy and your continuing advocacy for Jewish families.

As a government, we're committed to continuing to provide support for the community that's been impacted, and I want the Jewish community to know: you'll never walk alone in the wake of this tragedy.

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