Presented as a Mayoral Minute at Council's Extraordinary Meeting, Monday 15 September 2025.
Sydney is a city in shock.
On the first day of the Jewish Festival of Chanukkah, a perfect evening at Bondi Beach became the scene of a terrible, violent attack on a happy community celebration.
We know now that 16 people are dead, dozens of people injured, and hundreds more traumatised by what they witnessed.
All of us in Blacktown City are part of a terrible shared experience.
There will not be a person in this chamber who does not have personal memories of Bondi.
We are united in our pain and grief. We are stunned, we are sad, and many feel unsafe.
We are also united in our shared gratitude and admiration for our brave and skilful police and emergency services officers who were so swiftly at the scene.
And the equally wonderful work by our dedicated medical staff in our wonderful hospitals.
We share admiration and gratitude for those members of the public who risked their own safety to help stop the attack and support those caught in harm's way
Importantly, at Bondi we also saw the very best of our community and of our country.
On behalf of the people of Blacktown City, our thoughts are with the families of those tragically killed and injured at Bondi Beach.
I also extend our solidarity to Mayor Will Nemesh of Waverley Council, and to the Jewish community who were targeted in this horrific antisemitic attack.
It is very clear that this is an act of violence founded in anti-Semitism. In extremism.
It was a deliberate assault on the values of respect, inclusion and safety that underpin our community.
An act of extremist violence, driven by hatred, has left many Australians shocked, saddened, and angry.
We must join to condemn violence and hatred. On this we must stand together.
We must also reach out to those who can use your help. Together we will mourn and support each other.
Blacktown City is built on respect, diversity and care for one another. We reject divisive ideas and actions.
At times like this, our shared experience, and our shared values bind us together..
Together we will work hard to ensure we live in a peaceful city, in a nation which respects all faiths and cultures.
