THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP
Minister for Social Services

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TELEVISION INTERVIEW
SUNRISE
MONDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2025

TOPIC: Bondi terrorist attack.

MONIQUE WRIGHT: Well, this morning we're just trying to come to terms with what has happened. A Jewish celebration of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach there turned to terror when gunmen opened fire. Sixteen lives have been lost. One gunman is dead. For more, we're joined by Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek and One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce. Welcome to you both. Tanya, I understand you were at a Hanukkah event last, at a different area of Sydney. The Israeli government, Tanya, overnight saying that the Australian government hasn't done enough to stamp out antisemitism. How do we bring about healing now in our country?

TANYA PLIBERSEK, MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES: Well, this is an act of evil done by evil people. And Mon, yeah, I've been to Hanukkah by the Sea many times. I've taken my kids there. Last night I was at Hanukkah in the Park in Newtown when the message came through that there'd been a security incident at Bondi. No more detail than that, but we had to disperse. And even that I thought that's not Australia that people can't peacefully enjoy a religious celebration that the whole community was invited to last night. And then, of course, as I was going home, more information started trickling through. It's an act of evil done by evil people and the Australian Government absolutely stands with the Jewish community today. We will do everything in our power to keep people safe.

WRIGHT: Okay, Barnaby, you posted on Facebook last night saying it is devastating for what we have become. What have we become?

BARNABY JOYCE: Well, first of all, we mourn and pray for those killed, injured and traumatised by this. And we also mourn for Australia because it showed a change in what has happened. Not only were these people Jewish or Australians, and they were openly murdered in front of, in cold daylight and cold blood. The bravest man in Australia was that individual who went whilst others were taking cover to disarm the gunman. So, it's not about faith, but the culture that was represented in those murderers is untenable in Australia. And the most tragic thing is I went online last night, there were people celebrating it, people letting off firecrackers for it. And this is, we've got to do something. This is untenable.

WRIGHT: We do not want to see any of that. Tanya, ASIO leaving the terror threat at the current level of probable, which means a 1 in 2 chance. Does that need to change?

MINISTER PLIBERSEK: I'm going to Canberra now and I'm no doubt that the Cabinet will be discussing this morning what more we need to do to keep Australians safe. This is beyond anything that anybody could believe would happen in Australia today. And, of course, we are thinking about all those people who lost their lives, who've been injured, our brave first responders, people who took action to help other Australians. It was, amongst all of the horror, there was these incredible acts of bravery and kindness as well. And we really do, as Australians now, need to come together to look after each other.

WRIGHT: Barnaby, we do need to come together, don't we?

JOYCE: Yeah. We need decisive action. But it has to be decisive. It can't be flipping this off, it can't be making excuses. Decisive action and people will be judged by that.

WRIGHT: Well, Tanya, you're on your way to Canberra. I certainly hope that it is productive as the shock sets in. Thank you both.

ENDS