Mr CHRIS MINNS (Kogarah—Premier) (12:06): The New South Wales Government clearly and unequivocally condemns the acts of violence and hatred conducted by members of Hamas on citizens of Israel. This is an abhorrent attack on Israeli citizens. It is indiscriminate, with civilians being targeted, killed and murdered and many being taken hostage. The position of the Government could not be clearer, nor that of many of the people of the State of New South Wales: We stand with the people of Israel and the Jewish community in New South Wales. It is important to note that many of those people have family members or loved ones who have been indiscriminately killed or kidnapped and taken into Gaza in the past 48 hours.
I express my deepest sadness and grief for those impacted by this attack. These actions are abhorrent, and we in New South Wales reject and denounce them. This attack was extraordinary and reprehensible. It has shocked most of the world and rightly been condemned by much of the world. Of course, we are working closely with the Australian Government to support those from New South Wales who may have been impacted. New South Wales is a strong and connected society. We respect the different backgrounds and cultures that make us stronger. We are proud to be one of the most successful multicultural States on the planet. Our people come from across the globe, with one in three of us born overseas and one in four of us speaking a language other than English at home. I want to be clear: There is nothing to celebrate in the killing of innocent people, the firing of rockets at civilians, or the taking of hostages. Last night the Opera House was lit at the request of the Jewish community, specifically to show solidarity with the Jewish community here in New South Wales. Members of the Jewish community should be able to feel safe and secure in their own city, State and country.
The Jewish community has every right to get together in solemnity to commemorate what has happened in Israel. The scenes last night, where epithets were thrown at the Jewish community by protesters, were nothing short of horrific. That is the opposite of what we want in Australia and in New South Wales—a harmonious, dynamic and multicultural society. Many of them have longstanding family and friend connections with Israel. I want the Jewish community in New South Wales to know that my Government and the vast majority of people in this State stand with them today and are horrified by the scenes not just in the Middle East but also on the forecourt of the Opera House last night. To celebrate what has happened in the Middle East in the past 48 hours is abhorrent.
As we learn more about the impacts of this Hamas attack on Israel and its humanitarian consequences, we need to keep rejecting hate and violence, and all those who perpetrate it. Each of us must play our part in making sure that violence, hatred and antisemitism has no place in our society or our community. We can and must live in a society that respects everyone’s culture and background. We must also make New South Wales a place where, when we see barbarism on this scale, we call it out for what it is—a disgusting and deplorable attack on innocent civilians. The House stands with the Jewish people in New South Wales.
