Australia holds national day of mourning for victims of deadly Bondi terror attack

An ABC journalist has pointed out a poignant reminder that life in Australia has changed forever after the December Bondi attacks.

In a clip shared to X (formerly Twitter) by Isobel Roe, a sniper can be seen posted on the mast of the Sydney Opera House.

Earlier this month, Sydneysiders were told to get used to seeing heavily armed cops on the city’s streets by NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley as the state bolsters its police response in the wake of the Bondi massacre.

As revellers descended on Sydney Harbour to celebrate New Year’s Eve, they were greeted with the city’s largest-ever police response, with a record 3000 officers stationed around the metropolitan region – some of whom were visibly armed with long-arm rifles.

“People will have to get used to that … though, it’s to provide a sense of security to crowds,” Ms Catley previously told media.

“There was no increased threat risk, but if the Commissioner asks to do that, then he will get the support of the government.”

Light Will Win service begins

Emotional scenes have emerged at the Light Will Win service at the Sydney Opera House as the nation mourns the victims of the Bondi terror attack.

The event is part of services held nationwide on the National Day of Mourning. 

Governor-General Sam Mostyn and New South Wales Governor Margaret Beasley, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Federal Opposition Leader Susan Lee, NSW Premier Chris Minns and state opposition leader Kelly Sloan are in attendance.

Community leaders, families and leaders are also in attendance for a moment of unity.

It is the first gathering of a global ‘Light will win’ initiative to respond to darkness with light, purpose and action.

Sky News host Sharri Markson is leading the ceremony and welcomed two heroic police officers who were shot and sustained critical injuries, making their first public appearance since the attack.

Ms Markson asked the crowd how could so little have been done to stop the rise of Jew hatred in the country they call home over the past two years

She said Australians of all faiths and backgrounds were now asking the same questions.

“We can’t change the blood stains at Bondi, but we can change the future,” she said.

“It’s not too late for our country, and tonight, in our shared grace, we have a moment of national unity defined by Aussie values of tolerance, mate ship and above all, a desire for peace.

“And it’s in this spirit that we gather here, and it’s in this spirit that I make this plea out of our pain and grief must arise change a promise of never again, that a blind eye won’t be turned to radical Islamic extremism, that visas won’t be given to those who despise our Australian values.”

Head of Chabad NSW Rabbi Pinchas Feldman led a Welcome to Country and opening prayer at the ceremony.

In deep mourning, he prayed for peace to Australia, Israel and all humanity and for the triumph of light over darkness.

The General Governor read a psalm before members from each family lit a candle in honour of their loved ones, alongside NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna and Bondi hero Ahmed Al Ahmed.

Four sons of Bondi victims led a moving prayer before videos from families sharing memories of their loves ones who lost their lives in the tragedy.

One man spoke through tears from a hospital bed recalling how his father overcame many hardships in his life.

Others spoke about how the tragedy has made them want to live their life to the fullest in memory of their loved ones.

Some shared how their plans for the future had been shattered after their loved ones suddenly lost their lives.

Matilda’s parents spoke about how their 10-year-old girl brought light into the world and everyone she knew.

Pictures of a newborn Matilda showed her smiling other videos shared her love of animals and playing at the park with her sister.

They shared how much their girls loved to sing and dance together.

‘Profoundly sorry’

During his speech, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese apologised to Jewish Australians.

He said everything changed on December 14 and the promise of Australia being a safe harbour was sadly broken.

“For that, I am sorry,” he said.

“You came to celebrate a festival of life and freedom, and you were met with the violence of hatred.”

Mr Albanese said he was deeply and profoundly sorry that the people who lost their lives were not protected from evil.

“Tonight, we stand in solidarity with Jewish Australians and we affirm and we reaffirm the shared values of unity, compassion and resilience that define our great nation of Australia,” he said.

“When we look to Bondi, we see it not just as a beach, but as a part of our promise to the world a welcoming embrace, that famous crescent of sand and water where there is room for everyone, a place where nothing should break but waves, and yet there on that most fateful of evenings, our hearts were collectively shattered. 

“The attack was anything but random. Jewish Australians were targeted because they were Jewish. 

“Let me say this clearly and unequivocally, an attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on all Australians. 

“It was an atrocity perpetrated in the heart of this city, in a place that dwells in the very heart of our identity.”

Mr Albanese said those gathered did so in solidarity with Jewish Australians, who had “shown profound strength”. “In the weeks since the world was up-ended, you have not retreated,” he said.

“You have not hidden away in fear.

“You showed us that resilience is so much more than survival – it’s about defying hate with unstoppable goodness.

“You have taught a grieving nation that the only way to defeat darkness is to add the light.”

Mr Albanese recalled Australia’s long history with the Jewish community, members of which were on the First Fleet.

“Just as Jewish Australians have been a crucial part of our history, you are essential to the even greater future within our reach,” he said.

“You have the right to pray, to learn and to live as proud Jews without looking over your shoulder.”

The Prime Minister said Australians were committed to “driving anti-Semitism from our shores”.

“It stands in opposition to all we are as a country, the nation we have built together – with care and compassion – over generations,” he said.

“A week after the massacre, when Rabbi Ulman spoke of the fifteen souls we mourn tonight, he described the light that each had brought into the world.

“May their memories be a blessing. And in their name, we will work to open all eyes to that light. Because that is the light that will win.”

30 days since last Bondi victim buried

Premier Chris Minns said today’s date was chosen to coincide with the Shloshim – 30 days after the last Bondi victim was buried.

“Many rabbis have told me that while the pain remains and the grief continues, the one month mark is a transition where we begin to search for meaning, to find purpose, to take action and even to ask questions, sometimes difficult questions,” he said.

The premier said it was a bitter reality that a dark and evil crime was committed in Australia.

He said Australia was not immune to that kind of darkness that would see a family maim and kill another family for practising their religion.

“But the story of Hanukkah is not that darkness doesn’t exist, but rather that it can be extinguished with light,” Mr Minns said.

“So the message tonight is, and it must be, that Australia can live up to that original promise, but we must take action, and indeed, we must change.

“I think we start with fighting hate, racism, antisemitism.

“It’s corrosive to our community, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to stand up against it.”

Mr Minns said Australians must unabashedly take pride in the parts of Australian life that are intrinsically part of our character, country, democracy, freedom, respect and equality.

“Should someone refuse these basic and non negotiable aspects of our country, we have to have the confidence to say that Australia is just not the country for you,” he said.

‘Extraordinary humanity’

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley noted the “powerful” response from the Jewish community following the attack, returning to sing and light candles.

“A choice to respond to violence with unity, to hatred with dignity, and to darkness with light,” she said.

“This evening we remember who was lost and the lives they lived.

“We honour them not only in sorrow, but in the way we choose to stand together.

“May their memories be a blessing.

“Tonight here we stand together and make clear the light will win.”

Ms Ley said there was “extraordinary humanity” also on display on December 14.

“Strangers protected strangers,” she said.

“Ordinary Australians acted with courage and selflessness.

“First responders, surf lifesavers and medical teams showed professionalism, care and compassion that saved lives.

“These acts do not lessen the pain, but they remind us of who we are.”

‘Prouder Australian’

Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, the father-in-law of the Bondi victim Rabbi Eli Schlanger, said the last 30 days had been the most painful days of his life.

The rabbi said he had seen the wounded suffer and the anguish of the families as he buried dear friends and mourned the loss of his own son-in-law.

“I believe I speak for many when I say we have felt an emptiness so heavy it could crush us,” he said.

“But in that voice, something else appeared, something miraculous.

“These 30 days, have witnessed an awakening in a country like I’ve never seen before.”

Mr Ulman said Australians had stood up for change and politicians agreed that hate had no home in Australia.

“I want to express my gratitude, personally and on behalf of my community, to every Australian who sent a letter, laid a flower, waited in line to donate blood or gave financial support to the bereaved,” he said.

“You did not just offer comfort, you restored our faith in humanity, to our leaders and to everyday citizens and neighbours, I say thank you.

“It is the Jewish soul remembering who it is standing here tonight, recognising the strength of this country and the resilience of my people.

“I say with full conviction, I have never been a prouder Jew and I’ve never been a prouder Australian.”

PM calls for unity

Anthony Albanese has called on all Aussies to ensure that “light will win” by “gathering in unity and remembrance” as the country pauses to remember the 15 victims killed in December’s Bondi Beach terror attack.

“This was a tragic attack, not just on Jewish Australians, but on the Australian way of life,” Prime Minister Albanese told reporters at Parliament House on Thursday.

“It’s an opportunity for us as a nation to wrap our arms around the Jewish community, because people were targeted because they were Jewish Australians.”

“Today, we share their grief – a grief with no ending, only a beginning.”

NED-14425-Shooting-victims

Mr Albanese said that the attack represents “a stain on our nation” upon announcing the commemorative events that will take place across the nation on Thursday.

Australians are being asked to observe a national minute of silence at 7.01pm AEDT on Thursday to honour the 15 victims.

Major TV and radio networks will pause their broadcasts to lead the nation in this moment of reflection.

Victorians pay respect to victims at Melbourne vigil

Victorians from the Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities gathered at St Paul’s cathedral on Thursday morning to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.

Joining them was Premier Jacinta Allan, Governor of Victoria Margaret Gardner, alongside former governors Alex Chernov, Linda Dessau and Anthony Howard and former premiers Jeff Kennett, Ted Baillieu and Denis Napthine.

Sombre music echoed through the cathedral as mourners sat in silence, lowering their heads as they honoured the lives of the innocent victims.

Rabbi Ralph Genende said the state stood “united in our determination to resist and overcome the evil of anti-Semitism, hate crime, terror and violence”.

“We belong to different faith traditions, yet we share a common grief,” he said.

“Together, we seek to build a society where all people can work together in cherishing and not disfiguring our common humanity, and respecting the dignity of our differences.”

The cathedral sat in sombre silence as the reverends read each victim’s name and age.

Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Phillip Zajac said the entire Jewish community was grieving the “unimaginable” tragedy that unfolded at the Hanukkah event.

“We are a very small and close-knit community, and the events of December 14 shattered all of our sense of safety and left us feeling vulnerable,” he said.

“But the Jewish people have overcome significant challenges in the past and our local Jewish community will do so again.”

‘Putting evil in young people’s minds’: NSW Premier speaks out

Australia needs to stop and “reflect” but also “call out hate” in our communities, NSW Premier Chris Minns says,

The Premier said on Thursday the day was “an opportunity to pause” and reflect on Australia’s worst terrorism event.

“But also to remember the 15 lives that were lost and they were incredible Australians, people that had done amazing things in our country … and those 15 people need to be remembered,” he told Sunrise.

The Premier added as a community, we need to call out hate.

“Preachers in our suburbs are putting evil in young people’s minds and we need to confront it,” he said.

“We need to … as a society, say that we will not stand for this kind of horrible violence, this terrorism. And I think it starts small … and leads to actions.”

Thursday’s national day of mourning – the first since the 2022 death of Queen Elizabeth II – was announced by Anthony Albanese, and will include the flying of flags at half-mast, a memorial service and the lighting of national buildings.

The theme ‘Light will win, a gathering of unity and remembrance’ was chosen by the Chabad Community in Bondi.

“It will be an opportunity for us to pay respects as a nation to those people who lost their lives,” the Prime Minister said

‘Revolution of goodness’ needed: Jewish leaders

The peak body of the Australian Jewish community, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) has backed the Prime Minister and Premier’s calls for unity on the national day of mourning.

“Those taken from us were patriotic Australians, proud Jews and devoted members of our families and our community. They were kind and decent people. We should each seek to live in their image, contributing more, giving more and loving more,” ECAJ co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said.

“Let this be the day we turn our pain and grief into a revolution of goodness, of mitzvot (good deeds big and small) that unites our country and drives out the evil. They want it darker but we’ll bring the light.”

Mr Ryvchin also took the opportunity to remind Australians never to wait until its too late again.

“It is also incumbent on us to contemplate how we got here. How we as a nation allowed a poison to flourish in our beautiful country,” he said.

More to come