Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak about Australia's values and our great nation. The horrific events of 14 December at Bondi Beach broke many hearts, most especially the hearts of 15 families whose loved ones were taken away from them in the worst way imaginable. The biggest terror attack in our nation's history also hit our veterans hard. On 15 December, Australian veterans started contacting me. They were coming through thick and fast from all directions, and it hasn't stopped. For the veterans who served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bondi massacre was triggering. I can assure you that they're out there shaking their heads in disbelief. It has put them right back in the war zone of the Middle East.

They're asking one question: why did we spend 20 years fighting over there only to see this hatred and violence unleashed on our very own shores? After the 9/11 terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda on American soil—which killed thousands of our American mates—the United States, as we know, launched what the world would come to know as the global war on terror, and this changed the world as we knew it forever. Forty thousand Australian veterans served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Forty-seven were killed, and hundreds of our veterans suffered injuries both inside and out. These veterans were told that they would, in some cases, pay the ultimate sacrifice to stop terrorism coming to this country.

After 20 years of watching their mates die and living with their own battle scars, the last of our Australian veterans came home in 2020. They left behind the Afghan people, who had walked alongside them to defeat the terrorists. They left behind Afghan women and girls, who they knew, without their protection, would be back under the control of the Taliban—not allowed to go to school, not allowed outside without a male escort and, since August 2024, not even allowed to speak outside the home. For our Aussie veterans who served in the Middle East, this is just another insult to injury. It's a moral injury that they will have to carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Our veterans were told they were fighting for democracy and peace. Now they must watch their sacrifice and the people they fought so hard for to give them freedom go back to living in the Dark Ages. When it comes to making decisions about a war in the Middle East, what we do know as veterans is that following orders from this parliament during those 20 years has done absolutely nothing. The only thing you have done from in here is fuel the fire when it comes to terrorism. After 14 December, the reaction of veterans—and, I think, of a lot of Australians—was heartache and pain. The trauma that all Australians were suffering was not helped by the response to the Bondi massacre by this parliament.

Some saw this as an opportunity, unbelievably, to gain ground by playing politics at a time of such national tragedy. I say this to you: shame on you. It was in stark contrast to the unity and cooperation—that's right, the cooperation—that Australians saw after a madman killed 35 people at Port Arthur, Tasmania, in 1996. Back then, 30 years ago, the parliament—all parties—worked together to fix our gun laws. They put the heart of our nation and its people before politics. And, because of that wisdom and courage, Australians got the gun law reforms we needed. Division was not the answer. Leadership and political will with unity was the only way through.

The days after a national tragedy are a time for grieving. Most importantly, it is a time to find out what happened, how it happened and why it happened and, for God's sake, to make sure it never happens again. The lack of leadership from our political leaders in this place not only appalled veterans; it appalled Australians. And, as someone watching from the sidelines, as a senator for this country, standing right here in front of you, it appalled me.

We don't know everything about the horrific events of that awful day at Bondi, but we do know that it was an attack on our Australian Jewish community on home soil. It was an attack on our Jewish children, and Matilda was the youngest victim that day. Her Ukrainian parents gave her the most Australian name ever. They moved here for a safer life, to be free from persecution. No child in this country should be afraid to be who they are. No schools in this country should need security guards. I don't care what god they worship and I don't care what colour their skin is. They're all our kids. They don't deserve to be chased down by cars or screamed at in our streets. Our children need to be loved and nourished so they can prosper and grow.

Nobody in this country has the God-given right to put the fear of evil into our Australian children. You have no God-given right! I'm not saying don't teach your culture. I'm just saying don't pass your hatreds on to your children. We have communities in this country that stick in their bubbles, and, yes, that's a damn problem—has been for a long time. But blaming immigrants in Western Sydney for a terrorist attack is not the solution, and bullying our politicians into a corner is not the answer either, nor is waving other countries' flags, burning our own Australian flag or screaming racist abuse. Agitating on our streets will not feed and nourish the innocent starving children on the Gaza Strip, because, sadly, it is not within our control. If you want to protest, by all means do so, but lead by example and do it peacefully, because that is the Australian way.

We are living in unstable times, but Australia is still holding its own. We are a strong and free nation. We must do whatever we can to protect our kids, our country and our values. And we're a pretty bloody great country, too. We were one of the first to give women the vote and to enshrine in law rights for workers—eight hours of labour, eight hours of play and, for some of us, eight hours of napping time. We gave the world the black box, spray-on skin, the cochlear implant and penicillin, and who can forget wi-fi? It doesn't stop there. Australia also gifted the world ultrasound and the first cancer vaccine. How's that for accomplishments? That's not to mention Vegemite, the dual-flush toilet, and wine in a box. And don't forget the Hills hoist—you bloody beauty!

We are the sixth-biggest country in the world, and, hell, we are the only ones in the world that have an island continent all to ourselves to play on. We have resources like iron ore, uranium, gold and critical minerals. We have in abundance resources the whole world wants, and, unlike our American mates, we still have a AAA credit rating. We have sunrises and sunsets that take your breath away. We've have mountains, beaches and farms that are the envy of the rest of the world. We even have our very own Skippy the kangaroo and Bananas in Pyjamas, and God help me if I forget Bluey!

We wear thongs where we shouldn't and we swear when we shouldn't, but we're always polite—'G'day, mate!'—and we're always great for reassurance: 'She'll be right, mate.' We've got kebabs and dim sims and curry. We have a great country of mateship and resilience. We have a defence force that is universally regarded as one of the best in the world. There are hundreds of thousands of Australian veterans, and we walk among you. In and out of uniform, we are always with you, and our capabilities remain. I can tell you, people: this country was not training us to make Vegemite sandwiches, although we're always obliged to help. They were training us to be killing machines—ain't that the reality! Most of us are agile, healthy and still very able to defend you again, no matter where and what the situation. And don't forget our Vietnam veterans. God love them; they're always up for the fight. God love our Vietnam veterans.

We don't want terrorism here, we don't want these old hatreds playing out in our own backyard and we don't want our children to have to live in fear—not here, not ever. That's not the country we want because it is not the country that we are. So, Australians, all Australians in this place and all other places, let's look for solutions, not fights. Let's look for answers and not criticism. Let's not repeat hateful stuff in front of our children. If there were ever a time a nation needed to dig deep into its heart for calm on our streets and peace in our lives, I tell you that time is here. It's right in front of you, so dig deep. Leave that peace on our streets. Dig deep.