Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you to Senator Sheldon for that question. What we know is this: the Bondi terrorist attack of 14 December was an horrific act; it was an horrific act of antisemitic violence; it was an horrific act inspired by ISIS. ISIS is a radical extremist ideology, a perversion of Islam that has no place in our country. It was an attack on Australian Jews, and it was an attack on the Australia we know and the Australia we cherish. Our thoughts remain with the loved ones of those who were killed and those still recovering from injury.

We pay tribute to the emergency services who responded without hesitation and to the everyday Australians who showed such immense courage in the face of terror. We pay tribute to Ahmed al-Ahmed, Sofia and Boris Gurman, Rabbi Leibel Lazaroff and Geffen Bitton. I am pleased that the government was able to facilitate Mr Bitton's return to Israel for medical treatment.

In response to this attack, the Albanese government has sought to unite the country, whilst taking strong action to crack down on hate, radicalisation and antisemitism. We've established the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, supported by Dennis Richardson's independent review into the federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies. It will investigate antisemitism in Australia. It will make recommendations to assist federal agencies to tackle antisemitism. It will examine the circumstances of the terror attack, and it will make other recommendations to strengthen social cohesion and counter the spread of ideologically and religiously motivated extremism in this country. We want to strengthen social cohesion and bring people together. (Time expired)