Australian PM apologises to Jewish community over Bondi Beach terror attack
Canberra, Dec 22
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday issued an apology to the nation's Jewish community following the mass shooting at Bondi Beach as he announced new laws that will target hate speech.
Albanese said at a press conference in Canberra on Monday afternoon that he feels the "weight of responsibility" for the fatal shooting of 15 people at an event celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah at Sydney's Bondi Beach on December 14.
"I'm sorry for what the Jewish community and our nation as a whole have experienced," he said, Xinhua News Agency reported.
He said that his government would work "every day" to protect Jewish Australians and would not let the Islamic State-inspired terrorists responsible for the attack win by dividing Australian society.
Albanese said that his cabinet met on Monday for the second time following the attack and agreed to move forward with a legislative package designed to combat hate speech and its consequences.
The new laws, which will be introduced to parliament in 2026, will increase existing criminal penalties for hate speech, make hate motivation a factor in sentencing crimes, and grant the minister for home affairs the power to cancel the visa of a person who engages in hate speech promoting violence or displaying hate symbols.
Additionally, a new aggravated criminal offence will be introduced for adults who seek to influence and radicalise children.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said that 10 of the 120 people convicted of terrorism offences in Australia since 2001 were children, but that 17 of the 33 people currently before the courts on terrorism charges are minors.
"This unprecedented radicalisation of our youth must stop. We will not allow extremists to groom and brainwash our children into hate or terrorism," she said.
Albanese said that the government would consult across federal parliament on the new laws to ensure urgency and unity.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Strong action against terrorism is always welcome. But introducing laws in 2026? That's a long wait. When innocent lives are lost, the response needs to be immediate. Hope they fast-track this.
As someone living in Melbourne, this apology feels meaningful. The attack was a shock to everyone. Targeting radicalisation of youth is the right approach - stop the problem at its root.
The world is becoming so divided. While these laws are for Australia, it makes me think about the rising intolerance here too. We must protect our social fabric from such hate, no matter which community is targeted.
Respect for the PM's apology. Leadership means owning up. The visa cancellation power for hate speech is a good deterrent for foreign elements. Hope the consultation leads to effective, not just symbolic, laws.
The statistic about minors involved in terrorism is terrifying. Grooming children is the lowest form of evil. Any nation's first duty is to protect its young from such poison. Australia is doing the right thing.
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