Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will not be attending the funeral of the youngest victim from the Bondi Beach terror attack, following criticism from the child’s parents.
Today, a funeral service will be held in Sydney to honor 10-year-old Matilda. The event is expected to draw hundreds, including friends, family, and political figures, all gathering to pay tribute to her life.
However, Albanese will be absent from the service due to not receiving an invitation, amid growing criticism from the Jewish community directed at the Prime Minister.
Matilda’s parents, Valya and Michael, have openly criticized Albanese, expressing their disappointment in his actions regarding their daughter.
“[Albanese] has failed my daughter and failed every victim of the tragedy. Had they done more, this would not have happened,” Valya stated when asked about the government’s efforts to combat antisemitism in Australia.
Matilda’s father, Michael, also voiced his frustration, stating that the Prime Minister has not done enough to “protect Jewish people in this country.”
‘He has betrayed the Jewish people of Australia, and of the whole world,’ Michael said.
‘Like what the hell is he thinking? And it showed what happened.’
Matilda, 10, will be farewelled today at a funeral service in Sydney where hundreds of friends, family and political leaders are expected to remember her life
Anthony Albanesewill not attend the funeral of the youngest Bondi terror attack victims
The parents yesterday wore stickers with Matilda and little bees.
They said they were grateful for all the support they had received.
‘She loved to dance, sing and play with her sister,’ Michael said.
Valya said Matilda’s sister Summer is struggling and didn’t want to look at photos, but she is remembering her sister by wearing her favourite colour.
‘At the moment she is wearing a purple t-shirt, she just wants everything to be purple, it was Matilda’s favourite colour,’ Valya said on Wednesday.
Matilda’s grieving parents also received financial support from billionaire Bill Ackman.
Ackman, whose net worth exceeds $9.5billion, donated $37,624 to assist Matilda’s grieving relatives as they grapple with the aftermath of the tragedy.
The attack occurred just before 7pm on Sunday, when Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid, 50, allegedly opened fire during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, killing at least 15 people and injuring 40 more.
Matilda’s parents Michael and Valya attend a Bondi memorial on Tuesday
Matilda (right) with her younger sister Summer
Images from the day showed Matilda smiling at a petting zoo, with her face painted, just moments before the attack.
At a memorial service on Tuesday, her father Michael held up a framed photograph of Matilda as he addressed mourners.
‘Her name was Matilda because she was our first Australian. We came here from Ukraine, and I thought Matilda was the most Australian name that can ever exist. So just remember the name, remember her,’ he told the crowd.
Her mother spoke through tears: ‘It wasn’t just a bullet from a spray. It wasn’t an accident. It was a bullet fired on her.’
Her brother found comfort in knowing Matilda was surrounded by family in her final moments, saying: ‘She knew she was loved, that she wasn’t alone.’
Relatives shared that her middle initial was ‘B’ and encouraged well-wishers to post a bee emoji in her honour on social media.
A GoFundMe campaign started by Matilda’s language teacher Irina Goodhew is raising funds to support her mother, Valentina Poltavchenko.
Goodhew described Matilda as ‘a bright, joyful, and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her’.
‘[On Sunday] while celebrating Hanukkah, her young life was tragically taken. Her memory will live on in our hearts,’ she wrote.
‘Matilda was a bright and loving soul who taught us that true goodness is in the love and compassion we share. Her memory reminds us to carry kindness in our hearts and spread it to the world.’
The fundraiser had already reached nearly $700,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.
Suspected gunman Naveed Akram (above) has been charged with 15 counts of murder
On Wednesday, alleged gunman Naveed Akram was charged with 59 offences including 15 counts of murder.
Akram, who allegedly shot at a crowd of hundreds alongside his father – Sajid Akram – on Sunday, was charged after he spent two days in a coma after being shot by police.
The charges against him include one count of committing a terrorist act, one count of discharging a firearm in public, one count of causing a public display of a prohibited terrorist symbol, one count of placing an explosive in or near a building with intent to cause harm, and 40 counts of wounding with intent to murder.
‘Police will allege in court the man engaged in conduct that caused death, serious injury and endangered life to advance a religious cause and cause fear in the community,’ NSW Police said in a statement.
‘Early indications point to a terrorist attack inspired by ISIS, a listed terrorist organisation in Australia.’
His father, Sajid, was fatally shot by police during the nine-minute attack.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett earlier said no others were expected to be charged.
‘There is no evidence to suggest other individuals were involved in this attack, however, we caution that this could change given it is early in our investigation,’ she said.
