From tolerance to terror

Well, the greatest massacre in Australia's history is no hoax, it's no joke. It is a horrible, evil crime.

Members of the public pay tribute the people who lost their lives at the flower memorial at Bondi Beach Pavilion. Picture: Rohan Kelly

So make no mistake: I am here, we are here, to fight for the soul of Australia and to fight for the survival of the Australian Jewish community – which has been here since the arrival of the First Fleet – just over 100,000 strong.

It has produced Australia's greatest citizen soldier, Sir John Monash, who would be turning in his grave right now. Our first Australian-born governor-general, Sir Isaac Isaacs, and the man who brought a touch of healing to our country, Sir Zelman Cowan, an Olympic gold medallist, Jessica Fox, the chief scientists and our greatest philanthropists like Frank Lowy and industrialists – this is what the Jewish community has contributed in 125 years or more, and this is how our government repays us.

We as a Jewish community have been abandoned by our governments. We feel alone.

Our governments have failed every Australian when it comes to fighting hate and anti-Semitism. Our Prime Minister, our government, has allowed Australia to be radicalised on his watch.

It's time for him to accept personal responsibility for the death of 15 innocent people, including a 10-year-old child.

It's time our Prime Minister was accountable for what has happened here.

It's time our leaders stood up and led at last, finally.

This is a time for accountability and action.

So Prime Minister, I am going to give you some ideas about what you need to do.

First, Prime Minister, ban the hate preachers. On October 8, in Lakemba, you had Islamic preachers say that October 7 was an act of courage and pride. When the Muslim community hears that message for the last 2½ years, is this any surprise?