A sombre vigil for the victims of the Bondi Junction attack was marred by political opportunism this week, as two prominent parliamentarians turned a moment of collective grief into a platform for division. Writer Julianne Schultz witnessed the scene firsthand, describing the actions of Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce as a powerful marker of the troubling times we live in.
A Moment of Peace Shattered
The vigil, held behind Bondi Pavilion, saw mourners gathered around a sea of flowers, softly singing a traditional song of peace. The atmosphere of shared sorrow was abruptly broken by shouts of "Albo must go" and a retort from the crowd. The singing stopped as attention turned to the commotion.
There, at the front, stood Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce, surrounded by security and journalists. Amid a crowd of modestly dressed, grief-stricken people, their presence was stark. Schultz observed them as dressed to perform for the cameras, their arrival shifting the focus from remembrance to political theatre.
Divisive Rhetoric Amidst Grief
Hanson, a politician whose career has been defined by fostering division since her first election in 1996, addressed the crowd. She spoke of freedom, safety, and the right to live "without fear," calling for hate preachers to be "rounded up." She then returned to her familiar rallying cry, stating, "Let's get back the Australia I grew up in... I look at the people we are bringing to the country. Certain countries they should not be allowed to migrate here."
While some attendees, including a man in a MAGA cap, welcomed her words and sought selfies, others were appalled. Volunteers from Turbans 4 Australia, a Sikh charity handing out food and water at the memorial entrance, represented a different ethos. One Sikh man told Schultz, "Australians reject extremes... If she had her way I wouldn't be allowed to be here."
A Broader Failure of Political Discourse
Schultz argues that the attack was seen not just as a targeted killing, but as an assault on the very idea of Australia as an inclusive society. That it happened in an iconic, joyful place like Bondi made it all the more shocking. However, the swift descent of the political response into opportunism, name-calling, and hair-splitting—over gun laws versus antisemitism—was an even more potent sign of the current climate.
The writer contends that both issues must be addressed substantively, not hidden behind reviews or calls for more surveillance. The failure of major parties to agree on basics, even in the face of tragedy, represents a dereliction of responsibility. This political pantomime, Schultz warns, must not become the new normal.
The article concludes by contrasting the actions of the politicians with the genuine bravery of citizens like Ahmed al-Ahmed, Reuven Morrison, and Boris and Sofia Gurman, who risked their lives to protect others. Tackling the current climate of division, Schultz writes, will require the same determination, courage, and humility they displayed.
