The abomination on Bondi Beach is a failure that extends beyond any politician or party
Idea
A year after the horror of October 7, 2023, I gave a speech at the University of NSW warning that Australia was sleepwalking into a period of excess and social disharmony. There was a lack of faith among our leaders, politically, institutionally and culturally. The concept of “friendship and fair dealing”, once thought to be the essence of the Australian character, was now seen as an outdated cliché.
I called on good people to speak out loudly and often against these trends. Another year, on December 14, 2025, the worst terrorist attack on Australian soil targeted Jews celebrating Hanukkah at Bondi Beach, killing 15 and injuring dozens.
Whether the attack was preventable remains an open question. Antisemitic incidents increased by 316 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year. Levels in 2025 were three times higher than in any year before 2023. The warning signs were not so subtle. They were screaming.
Yet here we are. Fifteen families were shattered. A traumatized community. A nation forced to confront what it chose to ignore.
The announcement of the royal commission was necessary and welcomed. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did the right thing by creating a clear and comprehensive mandate focused on antisemitism and social cohesion.
The government will subject itself and our institutions to strict scrutiny as it launches this investigation. But that can’t be where things end. We must be alert to what this moment demands of us.
When I talked about the lack of faith in 2024, I was describing a large leadership class of Australians who have failed to face hard facts and make tough decisions. The disgusting incident at Bondi Beach confirmed this assessment in the most brutal way.
This failure goes beyond any politician or party. It includes our intelligence agencies, law enforcement, educational, cultural and health institutions, the trade union movement and the media.
All these institutions have some responsibilities for creating an environment where hatred can flourish and warnings can be ignored. The royal commission will identify these failings with unflinching honesty. So what should be the main goals?
First, institutional reform with real enforcement mechanisms. The fact that a terrorist whom the authorities have known for 6 years could carry out such an attack reveals that a systemic functioning has been broken. We need structural changes in how intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and political leaders identify, evaluate, train, communicate with each other, and respond to threats posed from within and without. I believe this will be achieved with the participation of Dennis Richardson.
Second, cultural leadership beyond legislation. Governments will enact and strengthen laws criminalizing hate speech and hate preaching. These changes are necessary but not sufficient. Laws tell us what not to do. They do not inspire us about what we should be.
Australia needs cultural, educational, business and civic leaders to actively model and defend pluralistic values. We need leaders in schools to explain why diversity makes us stronger. We need them in boardrooms to show that inclusion is a competitive advantage, not a compliance exercise. We need them in community centers to build bridges between groups that fear each other.
This cannot be delegated to the government. It requires everyone who believes in Australian values to speak loudly and often. Saying that it is not right to expose Jewish artists. It is not right for a senior scientist working at a prestigious hospital to peddle a conspiracy theory that antisemitic attacks in Melbourne and Sydney were Mossad false flag operations, or that the “Zionist lobby” influenced ASIO and the government to blame Iran for these attacks. This is unacceptable behavior by those who hold privileged and respected leadership positions.
Third, transparency and trust building. We need regular and transparent reporting on the implementation of the royal commission’s recommendations, as well as immediate implementation of the report by special envoy on antisemitism, Jillian Segal. Once trust is shaken, it can only be rebuilt slowly and with commitment over time.
There will be difficult political choices ahead of us. We need a more robust response to deal with those who do not share our Australian values or bring old hatred and violence from elsewhere. Immigration is a wonderful thing, as long as those who want to enjoy all the freedoms and benefits of Australia also submit to our values and shared responsibilities.
Fourth, recognition that this threatens everyone. Antisemitism is not just a Jewish problem, just as attacks on Muslims, Christians, Hindus, or any other community are not isolated concerns. When hate targets a group based on identity, it threatens the entire social fabric that protects us all.
Finally, education as prevention. We need comprehensive educational programs about the Holocaust, the history and present-day manifestations of antisemitism, and the responsibilities of citizenship.
in a diverse democracy.
Young Australians must understand that the freedoms they enjoy have been hard won and remain fragile. Tolerance is not passive acceptance but active participation in difference. Democracy needs citizens, not just voters.
Australia now faces a decisive choice. We could treat Bondi as an aberration, a terrifying event that required a brief period of activity before returning to business as usual. Or we might see this as a moment that requires a renewed commitment to Australia’s true values.
The test of our leadership and indeed our national character is not whether we investigate or not. What matters is whether we have the courage to put their findings into practice and confront the uncomfortable truths about how we got to this point.
Australians everywhere have been speaking out over the last few weeks. The Jewish community has been overwhelmed by the empathy and support from so many other Australians. Business leaders, sports heroes, lawyers and millions of Australians with little interest in politics have called for a royal commission as the path to a better future.
That’s why I’m optimistic about Australia. A hitherto silent majority of good people have now spoken. Now is the time for collective action. The Western world is watching us.
The question is whether our society has the will to make this happen. Fifteen people died because we did not have the faith to act on clear warnings. The royal commission will tell us what went wrong and set a direction for urgent change.
The rest is up to us. Every Australian who believes in the values of tolerance and mutual respect must speak out, take action and hold our leaders accountable for upholding these values.
We will know we have succeeded when we no longer need armed guards outside our Jewish schools, synagogues and institutions. The time for sleepwalking is over.
Steven Lowy is the former co-chief executive of Westfield Corporation.
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Steven Lowy is the former co-chief executive of Westfield Corporation.
