Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to offer my heartfelt condolences to the families and communities affected by this horrific attack in Bondi. I acknowledge those who lost their lives in this tragedy that should never have occurred—15 innocent lives lost and many more changed forever. This was an appalling act of antisemitism that marred what should have been a day of celebration for our Jewish community. Antisemitism has no place in Australia. Hatred has no place in Australia. Extremist violence and terror have no place in this country. My thoughts continue to be with the Jewish community in Bondi and beyond.

On 16 December, two days after the massacre, I made my way to Bondi. I went there to lay flowers, to grieve, to listen and to reflect. Hundreds of mourners were there to do the same. We gathered around the growing floral tribute at the pavilion. During that late afternoon, the spirit of the moment was solemn and respectful; I'll never forget it. Community members and leaders alike were sharing their grief. They were also sharing their thoughts on how to move forward.

I had the opportunity to listen to a man who addressed the growing crowd, and he had the full attention of those who gathered. He identified himself as the brother-in-law of one of the victims; it was Rabbi Mendel Kastel, brother-in-law of Rabbi Eli Schlanger. To lose a loved one in these circumstances is unimaginable. To then stand before your community and share that grief is courageous—and it was also inspiring. He began by saying that it was good that people had come to Bondi to gather in community. On behalf of his family, he thanked everyone for being there. But he also said that it wasn't enough. He said that, to counter the evil that had occurred on that day, we needed to commit to do good things in the world not just once but again and again. Being there together was a good act, he said, but he urged everyone to do more good after that day and every day. This is the task ahead of us all now: to do good, to grieve together, to reflect respectfully and to commit to act with these values at our core—values of kindness, community and goodness, values that must persevere in times of hardship like this.

As the Prime Minister has said, Australians have responded with the best of our national character by working together and looking after each other. That is a collective good, and we can continue to work together and look after one another in our everyday lives. We can continue to work together and look after each other in this parliament and around our nation, and it is in the spirit that I attended the first meeting of our antisemitism education taskforce last year. Our minister for education, Jason Clare, said recently that our education system is the most powerful force for good, and I couldn't agree more: teaching our children compassion, kindness and understanding; making sure they know the evils of antisemitism and never forget the tragedy of the Bondi massacre; and showing the next generation how to do good each and every day. I know this taskforce will help us do just that—instilling kindness, community and goodness in our early education centres, our schools and our universities so Australia's students can take those values and that knowledge into the world with them and do good things not just once but again and again.

My thoughts today and every day are with those who are still recovering. We stand with you during this difficult time, and I thank the first responders and the everyday Australians who showed strength and kindness in the face of such a confronting scene. Finally, to the Jewish community, to the Bondi community and to the friends and the families of victims I once again extend my deepest, heartfelt condolences, and I stand with you.