Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced more details for the national bravery awards to recognise civilians and first responders who confronted “the worst of evil” during the Bondi Beach antisemitic terror attack that left 15 dead.
Albanese said he plans to establish a special honours system for those who placed themselves in harms way to help during the attack on a beachside Hanukkah celebration, like Ahmed al Ahmed, a Syrian-Australian Muslim who disarmed one of the assailants before being wounded himself.
Sajid Akram, who was killed by police during the December 14 attack, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram are accused of perpetrating Australia’s worst massacre since 1996.
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Speaking at a press conference after a Christmas Day lunch at Bill Crews and the Exodus Foundation with NSW Premier, Chris Minns in Sydney, Albanese described a Christmas defined by a sharp contrast between extremist violence and the “best of humanity".
“This Christmas is a different one because of the anti-terror and the terrorist attack motivated by ISIS and antisemitism,” Albanese said.
“But at the same time as we have seen the worst of humanity, we have seen the bravery and kindness and compassion ... from those who rushed to danger.”
Albanese promised $10 million to the charity.
The proposed honours, revealed earlier this week, would recognise those who are nominated and recommended for bravery or meritorious awards under the existing Australian Honours and Awards system for their actions during and after the attack.
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Wounded policeman visited by Sydney Roosters captain
The young policeman who was shot and blinded from the Bondi terror attack has been pictured at home, after nearly two weeks in hospital.
Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert was visited by Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco a gifted a signed Redcliffe Dolphins jersey, NSW Police said.
Constable Hibbert was just four months into the job, when he was critically injured while patrolling the Hannukah event.
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'Difficult fortnight'
Just a day after pushing through the country's toughest firearm laws, New South Wales state leader Chris Minns issued a plea for national solidarity, urging Australians to support their Jewish neighbours during what he described as a fortnight of “heartbreak and pain".
“Everybody in Australia needs to wrap their arms around them and lift them up,” Minns said at the same press conference.
“I want them to know that Australians have got their back. We’re in their corner and we’re going to help them get through this.”
Tougher gun laws
The gun reforms which passed through the New South Wales state legislature on Christmas Eve include capping individual gun ownership at four and reclassifying high-risk weapons like pump-action firearms.
The legislation also tightens licensing by reducing permit terms to two years, restricting ownership to Australian citizens, and removing the review pathway for license denials.
“Gun reform alone will not solve hatred or extremism, but we can’t fail to act on restricting access to weapons which could lead to further violence against our citizens," Minns said earlier in the week when introducing the proposed laws.
Other new laws will ban the public display of terrorist symbols and grant police expanded powers to restrict public gatherings in specific areas following terrorist incidents.
Albanese has also announced plans to tighten our already strict gun laws.