Select Language:
A poster of 10-year-old Matilda, who was killed in the December 14 Bondi Beach shooting, is displayed on the gate of Bondi Pavilion in Sydney on December 18, 2025 — AFP
– Prime Minister focuses on targeting extremist preachers and hate-related visas.
– Plans are underway to identify organizations associated with hate speech.
– Serious racial vilification will soon be classified as a federal offense.
Sydney, Australia — The country’s leader pledged Thursday to eradicate extremism as the nation mourned the loss of its youngest victim in the Bondi Beach incident, a girl remembered as “our little sunshine.”
Two gunmen, father and son, are accused of opening fire into crowds during a Jewish festival by the beach on Sunday evening, killing 15 people. Authorities have linked the attack to “Daesh ideology.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese assured the public of a comprehensive effort to remove “the evil of antisemitism from our society,” emphasizing that more proactive measures are needed.
“Australians are in shock and outraged. I share that anger. There’s a clear need for us to do more,” he told reporters.
New authorities will be empowered to scrutinize extremist preachers and to deny or revoke visas for individuals spreading hate or creating divisions.
The government also plans to establish a system for listing organizations led by hate speech perpetrators, with “serious vilification” based on race set to become a federal criminal offense.
As the Prime Minister spoke, mourners gathered for the funeral of Matilda, the youngest victim of the attack.
“Matilda was our little ray of sunshine,” said the rabbi conducting her service, reading a message from her school.
“She was genuinely the kindest, most caring, and compassionate young girl, lighting up everyone’s day with her bright smile and contagious laugh.”
Clad in black, mourners carried lilies as they entered the funeral service at Sydney’s Chevra Kadisha, a Jewish organization responsible for traditional burials. Some held balloons decorated with images of bumblebees, a nod to Matilda’s nickname, “Matilda Bee.”
Photos taken before the shooting showed her petting animals at a zoo and smiling after having her face painted.
Matilda’s family — who have requested media refrain from publishing their last name — emigrated from Ukraine to Australia prior to Russia’s invasion.
“I never imagined I would lose my daughter here. It’s a nightmare,” her mother Valentyna told reporters before the funeral.
“It’s all here — in my head and in my heart. I just can’t shake it,” she added, pointing to her mind and chest.
Her father, Michael, said they chose her name to honor Australia, where the beloved folk song “Waltzing Matilda” is considered an unofficial national anthem.
“We moved here from Ukraine, and Matilda was our first child born in Australia,” he explained earlier in the week.
“And I believed that Matilda is the most Australian name there is. Remember her name.”
## Extremist Ideology
Sajid Akram and his son Naveed are accused of carrying out an antisemitic attack during a Hanukkah celebration, firing into the crowd.
Father Sajid, 50, was killed during a confrontation with police, while 24-year-old Naveed survived.
Naveed, reportedly unemployed and working as a bricklayer, faces 15 counts of murder, terrorism charges, and multiple other serious crimes.
Investigators believe both men were radicalized by “Daesh ideology.”
Authorities are examining whether they met with extremists during a trip to the Philippines weeks before the attack.
The Philippines announced Wednesday there’s no evidence of the country being used for terrorist training.
Questions are being raised about whether Australian authorities could have intervened earlier to prevent the shootings.
Naveed had come under intelligence scrutiny in 2019 but was not considered an immediate threat at that time.
The attack has also reignited concerns that Australia has been slow to address rising antisemitism.
“Today is a very critical moment,” said Jillian Segal, the government’s antisemitism envoy, on Thursday. “Not just for our community but in the effort to combat antisemitism worldwide.”
Meanwhile, Australia is working to strengthen gun laws that previously allowed Sajid Akram to own six firearms.
The bombing at Bondi Beach marks the deadliest mass shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which resulted in 35 deaths and led to comprehensive gun law reforms.
Despite these changes, recent years have seen a steady increase in privately owned firearms in the country.
ChatGPT
Perplexity
Gemini AI
Grok AI
