Topic: Bondi Beach Terror Attack

CATHERINE MURPHY: As we've said to you, we'll be down here at Bondi Beach this morning through the entirety of the program, bringing you many voices and reaction as we're bringing, been bringing you already this morning. One such voice is Senator Dave Sharma. He's a former ambassador to Israel and he's also the former federal member for this area as well, Wentworth, and it covers Bondi Beach. And he is with us now. Good morning to you, Senator.

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DAVE SHARMA: Good morning, Catherine.

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CATHERINE MURPHY: Can I firstly begin by offering my condolences and ask how you and your community is feeling?

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DAVE SHARMA: Look, I think it's just been heartbreaking and tragic for, um, Sydney's Jewish community, for those who are personally afflicted. I know a number of the victims personally. I know a number of people who were there. But I think it's a very sad day for Australia as well. I mean, this is an attack on values that underpin our nation. Values like pluralism, um, and multi-faith identity respect for one another as fellow citizens. And as far as I'm aware, this is the worst ever terrorist attack we've had on an, on Australian soil. So, I think it's a terribly sad day for our nation, in addition to the terrible grief and, um, hurt it's caused the many victims and their families.

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JAMES GLENDAY: Dave, James Glenday here. Could you have ever imagined something like this happening here at Bondi Beach?

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DAVE SHARMA: I think only in my worst nightmares, James, to be honest. I mean, I, I wasn't at the ceremony yesterday, but I've been frequently to that Hanukkah celebration. Um, it's a joyous occasion. It's a festival-like atmosphere. There's food, there's donuts, there's rides, there's amusement for children. A lot of the Jewish community attends, but a lot of the non-Jewish community attends and participates as well. And the, to imagine or foresee that an occasion which is really about a celebration of life and tradition and custom, with no animosity or malice directed towards anyone would be the target of a terrorist attack, a vicious and lethal and brutal terrorist attack is, it's just beyond comprehension.

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CATHERINE MURPHY: Dave, we've seen a rise in anti-Semitic attacks across the country. How do you think that we got to this position?

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DAVE SHARMA: Look, I'm, I'm respectful obviously that the police and law enforcement and our intelligence agencies, have a job to do. But it has been clear to anyone who watches these things closely, it's been clear to our intelligence agencies that there, has been a significant increase in hostility and malice directed towards and targeted at Australia's Jewish community since the 7th of October 2023, since the Israel-Gaza war commenced. And we have seen over the past two years, we've seen firebombings of synagogues. We've seen property damage. We've seen vandalism. We've seen harassment. We've seen intimidation. We've seen hateful slogans expressed. and many of the Jewish community feared it was only a matter of time before, um, the heightened incitement and, and atmosphere grievance was directed towards them and led to something more lethal and more fatal. And in a tragic way, that has, that has been shown to be the case overnight.

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JAMES GLENDAY: Dave, what would you like to see from the nation's political leaders today? Obviously we're gonna be hearing from, authorities throughout the day. What would you like to see from politicians in this moment?

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DAVE SHARMA: Well, I think we need to hear strong expressions of, of course sympathy and condolence for, for the victims. We need the full support of our law enforcement, authorities to conduct their investigation. But more broadly, we need to see, um, I think Australians reaching out to any Jewish neighbours or friends or family or colleagues or professional acquaintances or casual acquaintances they have and, and letting them know that, um, they have a valued and welcome place in Australia and Australian society. And what we've seen unfold, um, is antithetical to who we are as a nation. It is fundamentally hostile to our national compact and our civic values. And to let them know that we share with them in, in their grieving and I think beyond that I think we need to strengthen and redouble our resolve to make sure that these sorts of hate crimes perpetrated against the Jewish community or indeed any minority community or any community of faith in Australia, um, will never be tolerated and will be met with the full force of the law. And we need to examine, you know, every tool available to us to make sure that we are doing all we can to ensure something like this never happens on our soil again.  

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CATHERINE MURPHY: Just finally, Dave, if I may briefly. We hear about this as attack on Jewish people, but an, an attack on Australians, an attack on Australia. What do you say to those Jewish people or what do you do to let them know that they will be safe? How do you make the Jewish community feel safe?  

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DAVE SHARMA: Look, it's, I'm not going to gild the lily here. I think it's a difficult task. I think the Jewish community has been feeling increasingly unsafe for the last two- and a-bit years. In a place that historically they have always found refuge and sanctuary and been welcomed as citizens. And it's incumbent upon me but incumbent on anyone in a position of political authority or influence to do all we can to reassure them that we will firstly, hold to account the perpetrators of this crime and anyone who was involved in supporting or facilitating or assisting it. But also to emphasize that this is not who we are as a nation. But I don't pretend that that is an easy task or that words, words alone will suffice given the trauma and the grief that many in the Jewish community are feeling right now.  

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JAMES GLENDAY: Senator Dave Sharma, our condolences again and thank you so much for joining News Breakfast.  

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DAVE SHARMA: Thanks for having me on.

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[ENDS]

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