Kieran Gilbert, Host: Let's go to the Assistant Foreign Minister, Matt Thistlethwaite. I want to ask you, first of all, you're the Member for the neighbouring seat of Kingsford Smith in the Eastern Suburbs. You know Bondi better than most. It is an iconic place in this country. Has it changed forever?
Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Bondi Beach is a place of happiness. It perfectly represents the good about Australian values. Sand, sea, people go there for good times. And that's what was occurring last night. A Chanukah event, first day of Chanukah, where our Jewish community were coming together to celebrate light over darkness, to celebrate family, to celebrate this important occasion. And that's just been completely shattered. This is an act of pure terror. Pure, pure evil. At the time, I was at Coogee Beach at a Chanukah event with the local Jewish community from the Coogee Shule. And there were record numbers and it was a time of happiness. It was a time of brotherhood and friendship and coming together. And that was completely shattered last night. And obviously, our thoughts are with the local Jewish community. I've had several conversations with them last night and this morning. We're providing as much support as we possibly can. But I urge all Australians today, if you have a friend or a work colleague that is in the Jewish community, please reach out to them, let them know that we stand with them, that we support them and that Australia wraps its arms around the Jewish community today.
Gilbert: And I know that you have been engaged regularly with the Jewish community in your area. We've spoken about it at length, and you've been very strong in your language about anti-Semitism. Has the government been strong enough? Has the Albanese Government been strong enough in cracking down the scourge of anti-Semitism? Because that is certainly not the view of Benjamin Netanyahu. He was scathing about the Australian government overnight.
Assistant Minister: Kieran, unfortunately we had some shocking anti-Semitic attacks in my electorate in January when there was a firebombing of a childcare centre next door to a shule. The Prime Minister and the Premier joined myself that morning on the scene. In the wake of that, I convened a group, a local Operation Shelter group, with the local police, local elected representatives and members of the Jewish community. And we've been meeting regularly to make sure that we do all we can to keep the community safe. Our government acted to support security upgrades to local synagogues, to local Jewish schools and educational institutions. And we'll continue, obviously, to make sure that we monitor the situation and provide as much support as well to the Jewish community. I'll be meeting again with that group this morning with the local police. I've just spoken to the local area commander and we're going to convene that meeting this morning with leaders of the Jewish community and we'll do whatever we need to, to keep that community safe.
Gilbert: Does there need to be a step up in that sense? Chris Minns has been praised for his response in the wake of October 7, your government has been accused of falling short by no less than the Israeli Prime Minister. Do you need to step this up a great deal?
Assistant Minister: We have stepped it up, Kieran. We strengthened the laws in the wake of some of the anti-Semitic attacks earlier on. We upgraded security at Jewish institutions. But we'll obviously monitor this situation. Obviously, there's a police investigation that needs to occur and we have every trust and confidence in our security and intelligence agencies and the police. And I want to congratulate the local police who were there on the scene very quickly. Unfortunately, we had police officers that have been injured, but we will certainly do whatever we need to make sure that we step up and protect Australia's Jewish community, not only in my area, but across the nation.
Gilbert: Matt Thistlethwaite, Member for Kingsford Smith and Assistant Foreign Minister. Thanks for your time. Appreciate it.