A permanent place of remembrance will be created at Bondi Beach, six months after the terror attack that left 15 people dead in what has been described as Australia’s deadliest act of terror.
The NSW government has committed $8.3 million in support for the Jewish community following the targeted anti-Semitic shooting at a Hanukkah event on December 14. Of that total, $2 million will be directed to Waverley Council to help build the memorial in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Another $2 million has been earmarked for school-based assistance, trauma-informed programs and grants. The Community Security Group, which provides security services for the Jewish community, will receive $500,000. The Sydney Jewish Museum is also set to receive $2.6 million for redevelopment, including new modern anti-Semitism exhibitions.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the government remained committed to helping the state recover.
“We said from the moment this attack took place that we would walk with the community every step of the way,” he said on Sunday.
“We know that the community needs support and we’re continuing to provide that.”
The funding announcement comes as public hearings continue before the Royal Commission on Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion. The inquiry has heard the Jewish Community Security Group had warned NSW Police before the Bondi shootings that an increasingly hostile anti-Semitic climate meant an attack on the community was a likely possibility.
Security assessments for events in NSW are made under a three-tier risk system. Tier-one events are overseen by local police, while tier-three events, the highest category, are handled by counter-terrorism officers. The December Chanukah by the Sea celebration was assessed as tier one, even though other Jewish events held in September and October were given tier-three classifications.
In its interim report released in April, the commission recommended that Jewish community gatherings be designated as higher risk.
NSW Multiculturalism Minister Steve Kamper said the consequences of the shooting were ongoing.
“We know the impact of this attack didn’t end on that day,” he said.
“Not only will this package be of comfort to people now and over coming months, but it will lay the groundwork for greater social cohesion and long-term prevention into the future.”
A vigil took place at Bondi on Sunday for “remembrance, reflection and hope” to mark the six-month anniversary of the attack. Among those present was the father of the youngest victim, 10-year-old Matilda. Police maintained a strong security presence for the event.
