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Penny Wong has issued an apology to Australia’s Jewish community in the wake of the December 14 terror attack in Bondi.
The Foreign Minister told The Advertiser she was “desperately sorry” for the tragedy, and conceded the government could have done more to combat rising anti-Semitism.
“I’m desperately sorry for what has occurred in our country and what the Jewish community have experienced,” she said on Friday.
Fifteen people were murdered and 40 injured when father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram allegedly opened fire during a Hanukkah by the Sea event at Bondi Beach.
Senator Wong said: “You always regret what more could have been done… We acted, but we have to do more – and we are.
“I think the two aspects of reform that we’re engaging in now are really important, both in terms of gun control, but also we acted on hate speech, but we clearly need to go further.”
Wong also condemned the slogans, “From the River to the Sea” and “Globalise the Intifada,” saying she agrees with anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal that they “have been used to whip up anger and hatred of the Jewish people.”
Her apology comes after Opposition leader Sussan Ley attacked Wong earlier this week for not visiting the site of the horrific mass shooting.
“I haven’t seen Penny Wong shed a single tear,” she said.
The government has been weathering criticism for not doing more to stem rising anti-Semitism in the lead-up to the terror attack.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this week rejected that Australia’s recognition of Palestine contributed to the events of December 14.
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“It is very clear from the evidence … that this was an ISIS-inspired attack,” Albanese said.
“ISIS is an ideology, a perversion of Islam that essentially doesn’t agree with any recognition of nation states, [that] seeks a caliphate.”
“These people weren’t shy about their motivation, and it is there for people to see. And I think that people should look at those facts which are there.”
Meanwhile, in an address on Christmas Day, Albanese described the country’s worst terror attack in history as “beyond comprehension.”
“What sort of evil ideology and thoughts at a time like this would motivate someone? We know that there is evil presence.
“But at the same time, as we’ve seen the worst of evil and the worst of humanity, we have seen the best of humanity,” he said.
Despite calls to the contrary, the Albanese government has defended its decision not to launch a federal royal commission into the attack, with the Prime Minister saying it would take too long.
Instead, he has announced reviews into intelligence and federal law enforcement agencies, which will feed into NSW’s royal commission.
According to Friday’s NSW Health update, 11 of those injured still remain in hospital nearly two weeks later, with two in a critical but stable condition.
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