Coalition shamelessly uses tragedy for political gain

With their sure instinct for creating division and scoring petty political points, Sussan Ley, David Littleproud and John Howard have gone on the attack (“Howard slams Albanese’s leadership, calls changes to gun laws a diversion”, December 17). As always, they have no clear policies or suggestions and certainly not a hint of bipartisanship. To castigate the prime minister, push back against changes to gun laws and foment further anger and unrest at this time is totally counterproductive. It is Howard, not Albanese, who is guilty of using weasel words in an attempt to restore the Liberal Party’s and his own vanishing relevance. The real irony is that it was the bipartisan support he received from Kim Beazley and the staunch backing of Tim Fischer after the Port Arthur massacre that facilitated his much-vaunted changes to gun laws. It’s such a pity he can’t follow their example, rather than baselessly attacking the prime minister and politicising this terrible tragedy. Merona Martin, Meroo Meadow

It speaks volumes about the mindset of the federal Coalition that their “carefully calibrated” approach to the appalling massacre at Bondi centres on wheeling out John Howard as some kind of modern-day Gamaliel, at whose feet we’re all supposed to kneel and receive the wisdom of the ages (“Ex-PMs broadside shows moment is slipping away from Albanese”, December 17). Talk is cheap and the Coalition has form in never missing a chance to score similarly cheap political points. Whatever the Albanese government’s own shortcomings, when it comes to dealing with antisemitism the Coalition’s lecture on the subject via their has-been-in-chief smacks of rank opportunism by proxy, and makes all their smug rhetoric about true leadership sound hollow indeed. Adrian Connelly, Springwood

It’s beyond disappointing to see John Howard using the Bondi massacre to score political points against the Albanese government. Surely this is not the time to promote division in a grief-stricken nation. The overwhelming majority of us feel enormous sympathy for the victims and disgust for the perpetrators. This includes those who recognise Palestine and disapprove of Israel’s actions in Gaza. It’s hard to believe an 86-year-old retired prime minister would think it acceptable to weigh in on such a sensitive matter at this moment in history. His disinhibition beggars belief. Rob Mills, Riverview

John Howard has stooped to a new low, joining Sussan Ley, engaging in political point-scoring and calling stricter gun control a “diversion” after the Bondi attacks. With the Australian right’s increasing embrace of the US-style “guns don’t kill people, people kill people” mantra, their transformation into a Trumpian MAGA-lite outfit is almost complete. Howard also has some nerve accusing the Albanese government of allowing the attack since it was the Howard government who granted the older terrorist a visa in 1998. The intelligence agencies made clear there was no knowledge of an impending attack and so it would’ve occurred even under a Dutton government. Furthermore, Australians have every right to march against the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, and conflating it with antisemitism and the Bondi attack is unacceptable. Fabio Scalia, Balaclava (Vic)

If I was ex-PM John Howard, having basked in the glory heaped on me for introducing gun law reforms after the Port Arthur massacre, I would now be embarrassed to appear in public since the Bondi shootings, which clearly show the reforms were inadequate. More so, I would never seek further plaudit by heaping scorn on our current PM. John Boutagy, Mosman

John Howard was right: “Australians are not stupid.” That’s why we relieved him of the onerous task of prime minister in 2007 and booted him out of parliament. It’s really sad that he’s using this terrible event to try and give himself relevance once again. David Gordon, Cranebrook

John Howard, divisive as ever, joins the hypocritical Netanyahu, Murdoch Inc, Littleproud, to flay the prime minister just 48 hours after the worst massacre on Australian soil in recent memory, and which we are all still trying to process. By contrast, Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, was all class: “I am not here to point fingers,” he said. “I am here to embrace, I am here to hug the community.” Likewise, Premier Chris Minns and NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane. Sue Young, Bensville

Fears for cheers

When Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce are cheered as they arrive at the Bondi Beach vigil, we know our society is in trouble. Was John Howard blamed for the actions of a deranged lone gunman at Port Arthur? Was Jacinda Ardern blamed for the actions of a white supremacist killing 51 Muslims at Friday prayer in Christchurch? No. Yet people are all too eager to blame Sunday’s events on Anthony Albanese. The Cronulla riots happened 20 years ago, and Hanson and Joyce are trying to raise those demons in us again. Mark Baxter, Kingscliff

Those now politicising the horrific shootings at Bondi, and no prize for guessing who they might be, are doing the very opposite of what most Australians are asking for. They are driving a wedge that divides the population, ensuring that this division will last well into the future. Can we not have some multipartisan co-operation, please? Bill Forbes, Medowie

How misguided are those who applauded Pauline Hanson when she attended the scene of the Bondi massacre? To think that her messages of hatred and division are the answer to antisemitism, and that she is capable of creating unity and harmony among Australians, is naive in the extreme. Ray Morgan, Maroubra

How silly do Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce look? Looking for political capital, they spout their nonsense. On their reckoning, Ahmed al Ahmed, the Syrian immigrant who saved so many Jews, should never have been allowed to settle in Australia. I propose the opposite. Instead of just a handshake, reward the hero with citizenship for all his family, including his parents. Denise Reilly, Willoughby East

National effort needed

Further legislative changes are vital in addressing the horror of Bondi but the law alone cannot change hearts and minds. While we need federal protections, the responsibility to dismantle racism and antisemitism does not rest with the government alone, it belongs to all of us. ​Real change requires a collective national effort. We must commit to community-wide education that empowers every individual to challenge bigotry wherever they see it. All Australians, not just those in government, need to take action to ensure every person feels safe and empowered to assert their rights. Chris Andrew, Turramurra

It’s time we took a leaf out of Denmark’s book and introduced Klassens Tid (Class Time), the empathy class for six- to 16-year-olds that is integrated into the school system. Combined with ethics, it would go a long way towards reducing some of the hatred and intolerance with which our society is increasingly bedevilled. Kendal Tichon, Bundanoon

If more needs to be done to rein in antisemitism, then politicians and the conservative media need to stop intentionally conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Mike Harris, Newtown

Police response

Jordan Baker reports that it might take half an hour or more for heavily armed Tactical Operations Unit police, based in Surry Hills, to arrive at an incident such as that which unfolded at Bondi (“Police were young and outgunned: Where was the backup at Bondi?” December 17). It begs the question as to why – given the nature of the occasion, a “probable” national terrorism threat level, and vulnerability of those attending in an open-air, unsecured environment – a tactical response team wasn’t assigned to be on-site and watching over the event from the start. Ross Duncan, Potts Point

Government to blame

To Prime Minister Albanese and his cohort: the road to Bondi was built on hatred, and paved with your indifference. When your Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong went to Israel last year, unlike all other international politicians and dignitaries, she doggedly refused to visit any of the October 7 massacre sites. She looked away. You were handed the report and recommendations of the special envoy to combat antisemitism’s report six months ago and effectively did nothing. You looked away. I voted for you first time around. Never again. The first duty of government is to keep the people safe. There has been growing antisemitic rhetoric and violence, but the Hanukkah massacre clearly shows it has reached catastrophic proportions in Australia – on your watch. And you were warned. You looked away and this cost 15 innocent lives. Kindly show some integrity and resign. Peter Reddy, Goulburn

I read with some incredulity the many letters expressing outrage at what had occurred at Bondi and an expectation that the government will now enact a number, if not all, of the recommendations by the special envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal. With the focus now on gun control, I have my doubts. The federal parliament next meets in February 2026. If the recommendations from Segal’s report are actually debated, this will provide some hope to the Australian Jewish community and the country at large. It is a national issue going to the very heart of the Australian way of life. To encourage the government, I suggest the creation of an online petition to be signed and sent to the speaker, saying: “We, the people of Australia, want our federal parliament to debate the report of the special envoy to combat antisemitism at the first sitting in 2026.” Dennis Bluth, Cammeray

Tighten gun laws

Stand by for a big push by the firearms lobby against any moves to toughen gun laws. As ever with powerful lobbyists, their dark arts are often performed behind closed doors. However, we can be sure that MPs of all colours will now be under pressure to resist cracking down on gun ownership. In this context, former PM John Howard’s dismissal of Labor’s push to tighten gun control as “a big attempt at diversion” rings hollow from a man who once saw all too clearly the danger of too many firearms in the community. David Littleproud is another claiming we don’t have a gun problem. This kind of talk will make it all the easier for the next terrorists to lay their hands on weapons. Meanwhile, why are we still waiting for a national gun ownership register? Nick Franklin, Katoomba

About 50 years ago, I was granted a gun licence. It was useful to me for about 10 years. Since then I have not needed it and have never owned a firearm myself. I have never been asked to update the licence or cancel it. I wonder how many in the community have “inherited” family firearms, or have firearms securely or insecurely stored in their homes? Checking this by an online form depends very heavily on an honesty system. Some people will not answer honestly due to illegal ownership, sentimental ownership, or ignorance. Marjie Williamson, Blaxland

I support a call for a snap referendum to ban gun ownership. The will and mood of the majority of Australians demand it. No one is to own a gun except for very limited exceptions. And for those, such as farm owners, the number must be severely limited with absolute proof of the primary purpose. Let’s do it. The Coalition’s call for more detail should fall on deaf ears. Howard Charles, Annandale

The atrocity in Bondi was clearly a hate crime. The murder of 51 Muslims in their places of worship in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019 was also a hate crime. The reason for the large number of lives lost was guns. There are underlying societal issues that need addressing, but guns are the common evil. Let’s not go soft on that or be distracted. Lucy France, Cronulla

Young life cut short

When I first heard reports of 10-year-old Matilda’s death, I was struck by her name (“Remembering Matilda, the youngest victim of the Bondi terror attack”, December 17). Later I saw her family on television saying they were Ukrainian immigrants. Her mother named her baby Matilda in acknowledgement of her new home country. Was this child, born on our shores, the promise of a new beginning? Could there have been a more Australian female name than Matilda with which to bless this newborn? Matilda’s name represented sunshine, freedom and opportunity. Her photographs at Bondi Beach bore this out. Matilda’s killing was a blow to our country. Australia cheated her out of her life by allowing the hate speech, the symbols of divisiveness, and the use of iconic public spaces and thoroughfares, to frighten and cow a very small segment of its society. Yes we have laws, but are they really enforced? Yes, we have politicians, but who do they serve? Yes, we have a media, but does it have its own agenda? Matilda, I did not know you, but my heart bleeds for you. Our country failed you. Isaac S. Mordecai, Rose Bay

Victim blaming

Those correspondents who blame Benjamin Netanyahu for the Bondi massacre are indulging in disgraceful deflection and victim blaming (Letters, December 17). Let’s not forget that for extremists, Israel’s existence alone was cause for violence and hatred long before Israel’s military campaign in Gaza began. The continuation of that antisemitism has been fed by the constant demonisation of Israel, with lies about genocide and rallies demanding Israel’s destruction. This needs to end. Athol Morris, Forde (ACT)

As an Aussie, I find it a bit rich that Benjamin Netanyahu should hurl criticisms our way when he presided over a monumental failure of his own intelligence services on October 7, 2023. At this stage, it appears the two Bondi attackers acted alone. Anthony Horan, Campbelltown

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