Bondi Shooting: A Tragedy Divides, Not Unites
In a stark contrast to the unity that followed the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, the recent Bondi shooting has exposed deep political divisions in Australia. The tragedy, which claimed 15 lives, including a 10-year-old child, has become a battleground for political blame and infighting, leaving many Australians disappointed.
A National Mourning marred by Politics
Thursday was meant to be a day of mourning for the victims of the Bondi shootings. Families and community members gathered to remember the dead and spread light and kindness in their honour. Instead, the day was dominated by a political row that led to the collapse of the opposition coalition.
"I mean, you would have thought they could have put this off for 24 hours," veteran political commentator Malcolm Farr told the BBC. "It's at the very least unfortunate timing and shows a certain amount of self-indulgence."
Political Fingerpointing
When two gunmen opened fire on an event marking the Jewish festival of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach, the recriminations began almost immediately. Politicians, including the opposition leader, rushed to the scene to apportion blame, while families were still waiting to bury their loved ones.
"The turnaround was amazing in the way they [politicians] politicised it," says Bondi local Kass Hill, 52. "The fingerpointing isn't solving anything."
The Contrast with Port Arthur
The 14 December Bondi attack was Australia's worst mass shooting since the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, when 35 people were killed. However, the responses to the tragedies couldn't be more different. Then Prime Minister John Howard visited the scene of the shooting in Tasmania to lay wreaths together with opposition leaders, who shortly afterwards united to help him pass firearms laws that made Australia a world leader on gun control.
"Australian society and politics is very different than it was 30 years ago and we're just a far more divided society," says John Warhurst, an emeritus professor of political science at the Australian National University.
A Society Already Fractured
There are several reasons why the Bondi shooting has divided people in ways the Port Arthur massacre didn't. The already fraught debate raging in Australia over the Israel-Gaza war has contributed to a more polarized environment. Additionally, the response to the attack has been marked by a lack of unity and a rush to blame, rather than a collective effort to address the root causes of such violence.
The Role of Leadership
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, accused by many Jewish Australians of ignoring their concerns ahead of the attack, has faced criticism for his response in the aftermath. He has been repeatedly heckled in public, arriving at a memorial to a tidal wave of boos and cries of "You're not welcome."
"You might as well go to a jihadist nation where you can fit in," one person shouted. Looming over the crowd, a large screen read "a night of unity."
Criticised as being overly defensive and slow to listen, Albanese has in turn rebuked his parliamentary rivals for "playing politics" with tragedy. The lack of a unified response from political leaders has only deepened the divide and hindered the healing process for the affected community.
The Path Forward
As Australia grapples with the aftermath of the Bondi shooting, the need for a unified and compassionate response cannot be overstated. The politicization of such tragedies not only hinders the healing process but also undermines the very values that a society strives to uphold.
It is imperative that political leaders set aside their differences and work together to address the root causes of such violence and ensure that communities feel safe and supported. The contrast with the Port Arthur massacre serves as a reminder of what can be achieved when unity and compassion prevail over political infighting.
As the nation reflects on this tragedy, it is hoped that the lessons of the past will guide the future, leading to a more united and resilient Australia.
