I rise to offer my deepest condolences to the families, friends, Jewish Australians and the community of Bondi on behalf of the people of Indi, as we mourn the loss of 15 innocent lives at Bondi on 14th December 2025.
I acknowledge the victim survivors, the family and friends in the gallery.
I follow many condolences that have been made today. I particularly want to acknowledge the Member for Wentworth in whose electorate this act of terrorism took place and who stands steadfastly beside her shocked and grieving community. Our Jewish parliamentarians, the Member for Isaacs, the Member for McNamara, the Member for Berowra, and the Member for Macarthur. Shalom.
The iconic beach of Bondi is a long way from the mountains and valleys and small towns of Indi. Bondi looks nothing like Barnawartha, Benalla, Boorhaman or Bright. But the fifteen people so callously murdered that day are indeed just like us. Everyday people enjoying gathering together in love. In Indi our links to Jewish Australians are strong. The very first Member for Indi, Sir Isaac Isaacs, a storied Jewish Australian, our first Australian born Attorney General and later Justice of the High Court was raised, educated and worked in the towns of Yackandandah and Beechworth.
In Bondi anyone can throw down their towel and enjoy a refreshing dip. It’s a place where children play, families picnic, tourists flock and just like on that tragic December day it’s a place where people gather to celebrate important events. And on that night Jewish Australians were doing just that. What happened at Bondi was a profound tragedy. A day that should have been marked by joy in the Jewish calendar was instead marred by violence, grief, terror and the most unimaginable loss.
Australians have been left shaken and confounded by the senseless taking of human life and the deep wound this event has inflicted on our shared humanity.
But even in these darkest moments, we see the very best of our nation. At Bondi we saw Boris and Sofia Gurman, two North Bondi locals who attempted to stop one of Australia’s most deadly terrorist attacks before a bullet could be fired. They would pay for their bravery with their lives.
We saw the Reuven Morrison charge at the shooters, picking up objects to hurl at them. He too paid the ultimate price for his courage.
We saw Ahmed Al Ahmed bravely confront the gunman, tackling him unarmed. We saw 30-year-old Gefen Bitton run back from safety to help Ahmed, we saw a pregnant mother Jessica Rozen using her own body to shield a stranger’s child. We heard about a young woman Tash Willemsen at the petting zoo protecting beautiful young Matilda Britivan’s little sister Summer. We saw a lifesaver running barefoot into danger to deliver medical supplies. We saw our police and paramedics respond with courage and skill. Countless others too.
In a show of strength and solidarity in one of the nation’s darkest moments, Lifeblood donor centres across the country were inundated as people sought ways to help, replenishing blood supplies used to support Bondi patients. Close to 50, 000 donations.
On 21st of December far, far away from Sydney but a few short miles from where Sir Isaac Isaacs lived and worked, I joined our nation and with people across Indi on a day of remembrance to light a candle in honour of those who lost their lives, to reject hatred and division, and to commit that light overcomes darkness.
As I drove to Canberra yesterday, I carried with me a condolence book delivered to my office from one of the aged care centres of Indi.
Speaker here in this hallowed parliament of Australia may we as leaders in our communities, as national leaders demonstrate that we can be a beacon of light. That we model the social cohesion we seek of our citizens. Not that we shy from the difficult and passionate debates, not that we wave through law without earnest endeavour but that we engage with graceful intent to do everything we can to respond courageously, powerfully and decisively to terror.
May light guide us all towards a stronger community – one that is more compassionate, curious of difference, courageous and kind.
May the memories of fifteen beautiful lives be a blessing.