Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is with a heavy heart that I stand here today in this chamber, on a day that was never supposed to be our first sitting day of 2026. What a heartbreaking way to begin a new year at Parliament House, standing together in grief.

But it is important that we come together like this, because 35 days ago on 14 December last year what should have been a day of joy and celebration, a day for families and friends to gather on Bondi Beach to celebrate Hanukkah, was shattered by an act of terror. What began with laughter and light ended in fear, in chaos and in unimaginable sadness. This was the worst terror attack Australia has ever witnessed. Fifteen innocent people—three women, 11 men and 10-year-old Matilda—lost their lives. My heart aches for the families who will never again hold their loved ones close. No words can ever erase that pain. Today, we gather in our federal parliament to say that these 15 people matter. Their lives mattered. Their absence leaves a void that cannot be filled, and they will not be forgotten. We also meet in this place today to unequivocally condemn antisemitism in all its forms. Make no mistake. This terror attack was a direct attack on Australia's Jewish community. It never should have happened, and we must never let it happen again.

In the midst of this dark day in our country's history, we saw something extraordinary. We saw the better side of humanity. We saw Australians—first responders and ordinary civilians—running towards danger, not away from it. They risked their lives to stop the rampage, to comfort the wounded and to protect strangers. That is courage. That is the Australian spirit, and it fills me with such incredible pride to know that my fellow Australians responded with such bravery.

Over the years, I've had the privilege of meeting many members of our Jewish community and of listening to their hopes, their concerns and their stories. Those conversations have deepened my understanding of what 'safety' and 'belonging' truly mean. Today, I reaffirm that commitment. To the Jewish Australian community: I stand with you. Australia stands with you. This is your home. You have the right to feel safe here and to celebrate your faith without fear. I pledge to do everything in my power to protect that right, not just with words but with action. That means ensuring our security agencies have the tools they need to keep our Jewish community safe—indeed, to keep us all safe. It means confronting Islamic extremism wherever it hides. It means saying clearly and unequivocally: the sort of violence that we saw on the shores of Bondi last month has no place in Australia.

This attack was not just an assault on innocent lives; it was an assault on our values of freedom, of faith and of community. We will not allow violence to win. We will not allow fear to divide us. We will honour the victims of the Bondi attack not just with our prayers but by living the values that they cherished: kindness, compassion and courage.

I've sat with families, community leaders and young Australians over the years who proudly celebrate their Jewish heritage. Those meetings remind me that our strength as a nation lies in our diversity and in our shared values. That is why I will continue working with them to ensure Australia remains a place where faith is celebrated without fear. So let us all commit today to stand together, to speak out against antisemitism and to ensure that all Australians can live without fear.

To the families who are grieving, you are not alone. Your pain is our pain, your loss is our loss. Your strength must inspire us to build a safer, stronger and more united Australia.