Standing on the steps of Sydney’s iconic landmark, the Prime Minister condemned Sunday’s tragic event as “pure evil,” yet assured it would not sow discord among Australians.
“Even in that dark moment, we witnessed how evil can never overshadow the courage, decency, compassion, and kindness that define Australians,” declared Prime Minister Albanese.
“As a nation, we are stronger than those who attempt to divide us.”
“The resilient spirit of our country, which we have collectively nurtured, will always triumph over those who wish to fracture it. We are braver than those who aim to instill fear,” he continued.
Leading the gathering, Sydney’s Archbishop Anthony Fisher called for an end to “inflammatory messages” at protests.
“The troubling presence of antisemitism in our city and nation is a challenge for us all,” he remarked.
“For two years now, week after week, demonstrations have taken place here in Hyde Park, within earshot of The Great Synagogue, where inflammatory messages were articulated unchecked.”
Fisher said things like chants and slogans at such events had “turned up the temperature” and “must stop”.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley addressed a large crowd at a candlelight vigil in Bondi, vowing that if elected she would launch a hard-line policy on hatred and radicalism.
“My message to you is this â if I become prime minister, and you practise hate speech, and you talk about radical Islam in a way that harms and hurts your fellow man and woman, and if you glorify hatred, and you are not an Australian citizen, you will be deported,” she said.
“And if you are an Australian citizen, you will be arrested.”
Ley slammed the government’s inaction ahead of the shooting, saying “the time for action was two years ago. The time for our government to stand strong in the face of Jewish hatred was two years ago”.
It echoed the comments of former Liberal MP Josh Frydenberg, who slammed Albanese’s handling of growing antisemitism in Australia ahead of the terror attack.
Frydenberg later doubled down on his comments during a TV appearance.
“From the hours after October the 7th, we saw those scenes on the steps of the Opera House, where people were celebrating the death of Jews,” Frydenberg said on ABC’s 7.30.
“Since that time, we’ve had the doxing of Jewish creatives. We’ve had the boycotting of Jewish businesses. We’ve had the firebombing of places of worship, synagogues across the country, we’ve had childcare centres bombed, and we’ve had daily protests.
“All of this has occurred on the prime minister’s watch, and these events created in Australia a radicalised community upon which not only have Jewish Australians been attacked, but all of Australia has been attacked now.
“The prime minister has been told repeatedly along the way that stronger action needed to be taken.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the surviving alleged gunman, Naveed Akram, was charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder.
The news came as the first of the funerals for victims began – some just kilometres away from where the tragedy unfolded when the 24-year-old and his dad Sajid Akram, 50, allegedly opened fire with long-arm guns at Jewish celebrations marking the first day of Hannukah.
On a more positive note, more victims were discharged from hospital on Wednesday but 17 people are still receiving treatment, according to NSW Health.
If you have been impacted by the terror attack in Bondi, there is support available.
To contact Lifeline Australia, call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14.For people under 25 years old, you can contact Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800. Both of these are available on a 24/7 basis.
