NEWCASTLE, Australia (AP) — On Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans for a national bravery award aimed at honoring civilians and first responders who demonstrated extraordinary courage during a recent antisemitic terror attack. This tragic event, which occurred on December 14, left 15 individuals dead and has profoundly impacted the nation during the holiday season.
The Prime Minister revealed his intention to create a special honors system for those who risked their lives to assist during the attack, particularly highlighting the heroism of Ahmed al Ahmed. Al Ahmed, a Syrian-Australian Muslim, played a crucial role by disarming one of the attackers before sustaining injuries himself. The assault took place during a beachside Hanukkah celebration.
Sajid Akram, who was shot and killed by police during the attack, along with his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, are implicated in what has been described as Australia’s worst massacre since 1996. In a press conference that followed a Christmas Day lunch at a charitable organization in Sydney, Albanese addressed the stark contrast of this holiday season, reflecting on the interplay of extremist violence and acts of heroism. He emphasized, “This Christmas is a different one because of the anti-terror and the terrorist attack motivated by ISIS and antisemitism. But at the same time as we have seen the worst of humanity, we have seen the bravery and kindness and compassion… from those who rushed to danger.”
The proposed national bravery awards would acknowledge individuals nominated under the existing Australian Honors and Awards system for their remarkable contributions during and after the attack. Albanese's announcement comes at a time when the nation is grappling with the fallout from this heinous act.
In the wake of the attack, New South Wales state leader Chris Minns underscored the necessity for national unity. The day after the state legislature passed some of Australia's most stringent firearm laws, Minns called for Australians to stand in solidarity with their Jewish community, which he described as facing “a fortnight of heartbreak and pain.” He urged, “Everybody in Australia needs to wrap their arms around them and lift them up. I want them to know that Australians have got their back. We’re in their corner and we’re going to help them get through this.”
The recently enacted gun reforms in New South Wales, passed on Christmas Eve, impose limitations on individual gun ownership, capping it at four firearms per person, and reclassifying certain high-risk weapons like pump-action firearms. Additionally, the legislation reduces the licensing period to two years, restricts gun ownership to Australian citizens, and eliminates the review pathway for license denials.
As Minns stated earlier in the week, while gun reform is not a panacea for addressing hatred or extremism, it is crucial to take steps to curtail access to weapons that can escalate violence against citizens. The new laws are also set to prohibit the public display of terrorist symbols and grant law enforcement enhanced powers to control public gatherings in areas affected by terrorist incidents.
Albanese additionally reiterated his commitment to tightening Australia's already stringent gun laws, furthering the discourse on the balance between national security and civil liberties in the wake of recent violence.
