Monday 15 December 2025

There is nothing more Australian than to gather outdoors with family, friends, and our communities at year's end.

It's why we are all still grappling with the terrorist incident at Hanukkah By The Sea in Bondi.

These were not random acts of violence. For too long, the Jewish community has warned of escalating risks.

This is not the first incident.

There's no place for antisemitism, antisemitic violence, or antisemitic terror. And these attacks must be condemned by all without qualification.

But this was not just a terrorist attack on the Jewish community, it was an attack on Australia and every Australian.

My heart goes out to those who have lost their lives, those still fighting for their lives and their families.

I was with Melbourne's Jewish community at Hanukkah At The Racecourse as the news broke of this terrible incident, and the fear unfolding at that moment was felt across the country.

Jewish Australians should never feel they must look over their shoulder when celebrating their faith, gathering with their family, or going to the beach.

This country is your home. Your traditions are a stitch in our shared social fabric. And when one community is targeted, the whole nation stands together.

As we process these events as a community in the coming days, there'll be sadness, anger, and demands for accountability, and all are understandable.

Acts of terror seek to be the first domino so that more will fall. They will fail. It's up to each of us to continue living our national values, our character and the type of country we want to be.

It's to live up to the courage of the police who put themselves in harm's way and we thank them for their service. And everyday heroes like Ahmed Al Ahmed, a small businessman who bravely tackled one of the gunmen and saved countless lives.

We cannot allow these events to be repeated or normalised. That responsibility sits with governments, with law enforcement, with community leaders, and with each of us.

Terrorism seeks to fracture trust and harden hearts.

Our answer must be unity, courage, and an unwavering commitment to the values that make Australia, a land of hope.

Let us be the country that responds to darkness with light, to hatred with resolve, and to fear with decency.

Let us be the hope we seek and bring about together.

Australia has faced evil before and we have always chosen to stand for life, freedom and hope.

Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas or just the coming New Year, this time of year is about hope.

Hanukkah is a message of light overcoming darkness. Christ's birth is a message of hope for humanity. And the New Year brings the promise of a new chapter.

Let us be the hope and change for others and our country, so that light breaks the dark.

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