Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has apologised to Australia's Jewish community, saying he feels 'the weight of responsibility' following the terror attack on Bondi beach. Speaking at a Canberra press conference, Albanese acknowledged the anger directed at him during a vigil, stating he understood the community's hurt.
The apology comes as Labor pushes back against Coalition criticism, with Finance Minister Katy Gallagher describing the opposition's response as 'incredibly unfortunate'. Gallagher expressed surprise that the Coalition chose to attack the government so soon after the massacre, contrasting it with past bipartisan responses to terrorist events.
Opposition leader Sussan Ley had earlier accused Foreign Minister Penny Wong of failing to shed 'a single tear' over the deaths of 15 Australians at the Hanukah celebration and claimed Wong did not attend any funerals. Wong did not respond directly but posted a photo of herself signing a condolence book at Parliament House.
Albanese declined to engage in partisan debate, stating he would continue to avoid such comments. The government has faced criticism from Jewish leaders over its handling of antisemitism since the October 2023 Hamas attacks. On Thursday, Albanese announced new measures targeting hate speech, and on Sunday, a review into intelligence and law enforcement agencies was launched.
The Prime Minister defended the decision against a federal royal commission into the attack, noting that the New South Wales government has promised a state royal commission, to which the intelligence review will contribute.
