22nd December, 2025. 2:29 pm - NSW Parliament recalled - Legislative Assembly - 22 December 2025
Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, Second Reading Debate
Mrs JUDY HANNAN (Wollondilly) (14:29):
I speak in debate on the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. Wollondilly is a great distance from Bondi, and despite only 0.1 per cent of my community having Jewish religious affiliation, I have heard the absolute grief, sympathy and horror at the events that took place at the Hannukah community celebration. The attack targeted Jewish Australians as they gathered, as they have done for decades. It has no place in Australia or, indeed, in any other place. It was targeted and seemingly well planned but had no justification at all, either morally or politically. What happened at Bondi was horrifying. In a place meant for everyday life—shopping, meeting friends and feeling safe—violence tore through the community and shattered that sense of normality.
As Jewish people gathered to celebrate light and all things good, such acts of terror are designed to do more than harm individuals; they aim to spread fear and to make ordinary people feel unsafe in their own city. The cruelty lies in not only the loss of innocent lives but also the trauma left behind—families grieving, witnesses scarred and a nation forced to confront how fragile peace can feel. No grievance, no ideology and no explanation can justify such brutality. Even in that darkness, we saw something powerful. We saw strangers helping strangers, first responders running toward danger and a community refusing to be defined by fear. The grieving Jewish community is asking us to do an act of kindness for someone. We must condemn such violence without hesitation, stand with the victims and commit ourselves to protecting one another so that terror never gets the final word.
In moments of tragedy, our instinct is to act immediately. That impulse comes from compassion, from shock and from a deep desire to make sure something like this never happens again. It is a shame that the bill is collecting together more than one issue. When it comes to gun laws, acting quickly does not always mean acting wisely. Laws passed in the heat of grief are often shaped by emotion rather than evidence. They risk being too broad, too vague or poorly designed, creating consequences we do not fully understand until it is too late to undo them. Public policy should be built on careful analysis, not on the understandable but temporary intensity of national sorrow.
Changing gun laws quickly can also distract us from asking the right questions, as other members have said. We need to understand how existing laws failed, whether enforcement was adequate and what specific gaps truly need to be addressed. Without that clarity, new laws may simply add complexity without improving safety. Rushed decisions can also erode public trust. When people feel laws are made reactively, without consultation or debate, confidence in institutions weakens and compliance suffers. Strong laws require public understanding and support, which only comes from transparent, thoughtful discussion. That does not mean doing nothing; it means doing it properly. It means taking the time to listen to experts, law enforcement, communities and victims' families. It means ensuring that any changes we make are effective, enforceable and respectful of fundamental rights.
My community has spoken loud and clear. They believe good policy is made not by creating headlines. If our goal is lasting safety, patience is not weakness; it is responsibility. The best way to honour victims is not with rushed legislation but with laws that are careful, deliberate and strong enough to actually protect lives. I will vote to ensure positive outcomes that will protect the Jewish community, stop hate speech and be based on consultation and evidence. I thank those who have communicated with me through email, in my office or on the phone. They have been respectful. I hope this Government will respect their views too.