Bondi terror attack heroes to be recognised in new honours list
Tom Crowley headshot
By Tom Crowley
Topic:Federal Government
Heroes in the Bondi Beach terror attack will be recognised in a new honours list. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
In short:
People who showed "extraordinary" bravery during the Bondi terror attack will be recognised in a new honours list, the prime minister has announced.
Anthony Albanese said police, medical staff and bystanders showed "the best of humanity" during the shooting, which killed 15 people.
What's next?
The recipients will be announced in 2026.
A new award will be created to honour first responders and other heroes from the Bondi terror attack.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had asked the governor-general to institute a special honours list similar to those used after the Bali bombings and the MH17 plane crash.
He said the recipients, who will be announced in 2026, would include police, medical staff and members of the community who rushed to help in the wake of the December 14 attack.
"At the worst of times … we see the best of the Australian character and we saw that on that day," he said.
"This would recognise those individuals nominated and recommended for a bravery or a meritorious award."
Mr Albanese said those who had risked their safety to help strangers deserved public recognition.
"That's not why people do it, but it's important that we as a nation celebrate our heroes and celebrate good deeds," he said.
Many stories of heroism have emerged since the shooting at a Hanukkah event, which left 15 people dead.
Two of the victims were Boris and Sofia Gurman, who were among four people who confronted, wrestled and fought back the two gunmen.
Ahmed Al Ahmed, a Syrian-born tobacco store owner, was also captured on video approaching a gunman as they fired, wrestling the rifle away from him.
The government has also declared the Jewish Community Foundation, which has been raising funds to help the families of Bondi victims, as a community charity.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said the tax office was "urgently" working to grant the foundation charitable status for tax purposes.
Israeli president to visit
The prime minister also confirmed Israeli President Isaac Herzog had accepted an invitation to visit Australia.
The pair spoke yesterday over the phone, with Mr Herzog expressing "profound shock and dismay" and "heartfelt condolences" to the Bondi victims.
On social media, Mr Herzog said he had "underscored the importance of taking all legal measures to combat the unprecedented rise in antisemitism, extremism and jihadist terror".
Mr Albanese said it had been a "constructive" conversation, adding that the pair had known each other for a long time.
He declined to say whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be invited to visit and he declined to respond to Mr Netanyahu's criticism of his leadership.
"We've invited President Herzog, which is entirely appropriate for the head of state to visit," he said.
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