Today the Labor family mourns one of our great sons. 

Nick Bolkus came to public life as a young man, with a young man’s idealism and sense of urgency, and he held true to those principles and that sense of purpose right through his long and distinguished career. 

Fittingly for the first Greek Australian to serve as a Cabinet Minister, Nick Bolkus was a passionate believer in democracy and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering on its election commitment to support the critical work of the Reverend Bill Crews Foundation and secure its future in supporting vulnerable Australians.

A new $10 million investment will help Reverend Crews and his team of volunteers provide more free meals, support those impacted by family and domestic violence, and deliver literacy programs for the most vulnerable Australians.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks for joining us. The antisemitic terrorist attack on the 14th of December has shocked the nation. The nation has gone through a very difficult period over recent days in coming to terms with what was a terrorist atrocity resulting in 15 innocent lives being lost and many more being injured. As we approach Christmas Day tomorrow, we hope for a speedy recovery for everyone who remains dealing with the physical impact of what occurred, but also, of course, there is a real mental health issue that people are dealing with as well.

Today I have written to the Governor-General to request the creation of a Special Honours List in response to the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025.

What happened at Bondi showed the worst of humanity – hatred, antisemitism and violence. But it also showed the best.

People ran towards danger. They put themselves at risk to help others not because they had to, but because it was the right thing to do.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: A little over a week ago, Australia suffered the deadliest terrorist attack ever committed on our soil. It was an antisemitic attack on our Jewish community, but an attack on Australian values and on Australian society. Which is why for many of us, Christmas this year will feel a bit different. What is normally a time of celebration and family and faith will this year be coloured by grief and sadness. But in the weeks since the attack, we've also seen the best of the Australian character and the best of Australian spirit.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon. Eight days ago, terrorists sought to divide our nation. They went to Bondi Beach to unleash mass murder against members of our Jewish community and to unleash the forces of hatred and antisemitism in our society.

Last night, the Jewish community returned to Bondi, along with many thousands of other Australians, to show that unity will triumph over division. Love will triumph over hatred. And, importantly, light will triumph over darkness. And that was the theme of the vigil - Light over Darkness.

I have asked the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to lead a review into Australia’s federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet will examine whether federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies have the right powers, structures, processes and sharing arrangements in place to keep Australians safe in the wake of the horrific antisemitic Bondi Beach terrorist attack.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thank you for joining us. I am joined by the AFP Commissioner. This has been the darkest week in Australia's recent history. The terrorist atrocity committed against innocent people celebrating Chanukah last week at Bondi Beach, targeting our cherished Jewish Australian community, has left our nation grieving and angry.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks for joining us. And I'm joined by AFP Commissioner, Krissy Barrett, and Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke. Today I confirm that the Federal and New South Wales Governments have declared Sunday 21st of December, a Day of Reflection to honour the victims of the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi Beach and to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.

The Albanese Government will establish a National Gun Buyback Scheme to purchase surplus, newly banned and illegal firearms – the largest since the Howard Government in 1996.

This is another part of the Government’s response to Sunday’s deadly antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.

Australia’s gun laws were last substantially reformed in the wake of the Port Arthur tragedy.

Sunday’s deadly ISIS inspired antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach highlights the need to finish the job the Howard Government started on gun reform.