Australian PM apologizes to Jewish community after deadly Hanukkah attack

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a formal apology to the nation’s Jewish community in the wake of the deadly mass shooting at Bondi Beach during Hanukkah, while unveiling plans for new legislation aimed at combating hate speech.

Speaking at a press conference in Canberra, Albanese acknowledged the “weight of responsibility” following the December 14 attack, which left 15 people dead at the Hanukkah event. “I’m sorry for what the Jewish community and our nation as a whole have experienced,” he said, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The Prime Minister stressed that his government would work “every day” to protect Jewish Australians and ensure that the Islamic State-inspired terrorists responsible for the attack do not succeed in dividing Australian society.

Albanese revealed that his cabinet convened on Monday for the second time since the attack and approved a legislative package designed to tackle hate speech and its consequences. The new laws, slated for introduction to parliament in 2026, will increase criminal penalties for hate speech, consider hate motivation as an aggravating factor in sentencing, and empower the minister for home affairs to cancel visas of individuals engaging in hate speech promoting violence or displaying hate symbols.

In addition, the legislation will establish a new aggravated criminal offense targeting adults who attempt to influence or radicalize children. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland highlighted the urgency of the measure: “Ten of the 120 people convicted of terrorism offenses in Australia since 2001 were children, but 17 of the 33 people currently before the courts on terrorism charges are minors. This unprecedented radicalization of our youth must stop. We will not allow extremists to groom and brainwash our children into hate or terrorism.”

Albanese said the government would consult across federal parliament to ensure that the new laws are implemented with both urgency and unity, emphasizing a national commitment to protecting vulnerable communities and safeguarding Australian society from extremist threats.

By Vafa Guliyeva