Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was booed by an angry crowd gathered at the famous Bondi beach ​on Sunday (December 21, 2025) to honour the victims of a gun attack a week earlier that targeted a seaside Jewish ‌Hanukkah festival event.

The nation marked a day of reflection on Sunday (December 21, 2025) to honour the 15 people killed ​and the dozens wounded in the attack by two gunmen. With security tight and flags at half-staff on government buildings, a minute of silence was held at 6:47 p.m. (7:47 GMT), the time the attack began.

Television and radio networks paused for a minute’s silence.

Tens of thousands, including Mr. Albanese and other leaders, attended the memorial that was guarded by a heavy police presence, including snipers on rooftops and police boats in the waters.

Mr. Albanese was booed by the crowd on arrival, and later when the speaker mentioned his name during the memorial. He sat on the front row wearing a kippah, the traditional Jewish cap.

Mr. Albanese, under pressure from critics who ​say his centre-left government has not done enough to curb a surge in anti-Semitism since the start of the genocide ⁠in Gaza, was not scheduled to speak at the event.

The government has said it has consistently denounced anti-Semitism over the last two years and passed legislation to criminalise hate speech. It expelled the Iranian Ambassador earlier this year after accusing Tehran of directing two anti-Semitic arson attacks.

“We have lost our innocence….last week took our innocence,” David ​Ossip, the president of the New South Wales Jewish ⁠Board of Deputies said in a speech to start the proceedings at Bondi.

“Like the grass here at Bondi was stained with blood, so, too, has our nation been stained. We have landed up in a dark place. But friends, Hanukkah teaches us that light can illuminate even the bleakest of places. A single act of courage, a single flame of hope, can give ‌us direction and point the path forward.”

Also present at the memorial was the father of Ahmed al Ahmed, hailed as ‌the ‘Bondi Hero’ for wrestling a gun from one of the attackers.

Authorities invited Australians to light a candle at home on Sunday (December 21, 2025) night, the start of the eighth and final day of the Jewish festival of lights.

‘Reclaiming Bondi’

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, who was cheered and praised at the memorial, said ‍the attack was an attempt to marginalise, scatter, intimidate and cause fear.

“You have reclaimed Bondi Beach for us,” he said.

Mr. Albanese announced a review of the country’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies earlier on Sunday (December 21, 2025). He said the review, to be led by a former chief of Australia’s spy agency, would probe whether federal police and intelligence agencies have the “right powers, structures, processes and sharing arrangements in place to keep Australians safe”.

The attack exposed gaps in gun-license assessments and information-sharing between agencies that policymakers have said they want to plug. Mr. Albanese has announced a nationwide gun buyback, while gun safety experts say the nation’s gun laws, among the world’s toughest, are riddled with loopholes.

Authorities are investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism targeting Jews. Patrols and policing across the country have been ramped up to prevent further anti-Semitic violence. ⁠Authorities believe the gunmen were inspired by militant Sunni Muslim group Islamic State.

“The ISIS-inspired atrocity last Sunday reinforces the rapidly changing security environment in our nation. Our security agencies must be in the best position to respond,” Mr. Albanese ​said in a statement, adding that the review would conclude by the end of April.

The Bondi Beach attack was the most serious ⁠of a string of anti-Semitic incidents in Australia, which have included attacks on synagogues, buildings and cars, since Israel launched the war in October 2023, in response to an attack by Hamas.

Mr. Albanese condemned anti-immigration rallies being held in Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday (December 21, 2025). Only about 200 people were at the Sydney rally.

Published – December 21, 2025 06:38 pm IST

Australia and Papua New Guinea say the mutual defence treaty will be signed after cabinet processes in both countries, following a delay this week. File
| Photo Credit: AP

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, on August 26, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP

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Australian PM Anthony Albanese has said matters like the expulsion of “spies” are raised “privately” when he meets his counterpart Narendra Modi. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said matters like the expulsion of “spies” are raised “privately” when asked if an incident involving Indian citizens will come up when he meets his counterpart Narendra Modi at the Quad summit.

Mr. Albanese was replying to a specific question from the media ahead of the meeting on Saturday (September 21) in Delaware being attended by him and leaders from India, the U.S. and Japan.

The reported incident took place in 2020 and came to light in April this year. He was asked what would he be asking Mr. Modi to “cease and desist from that kind of spying on Australian soil”.

Mr. Albanese said, “Well, what I do is act diplomatically and have those discussions, and that will, no doubt, be something that is raised.”

“But the relationship between Australia and India is a very strong one. I’ll be talking with Prime Minister Modi about our Comprehensive Economic Partnership, we want to see concluded. We have had increased economic relations between our two great nations,” Mr. Albanese said in Philadelphia on Thursday (September 18).

Answering a related question, he said, “What I do is, I raise issues privately – is how that we deal with things diplomatically, and I’ll continue to do so.”

According to reports, Australia expelled two Indian spies in 2020 for allegedly trying to “steal secrets” about sensitive defence projects and airport security.

While The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald said two Indian spies were booted out, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) did not mention any number.

New Delhi:

Australian Prime Minister who is in Delhi to attend the G20 Summit taking place under India’s presidency on Saturday termed the G20 Summit hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “successful”. 

He stated that the New Delhi Summit was followed by a good bilateral discussion between the two leaders. 

In a post on X, the Australian Prime Minister informed about holding discussions with PM Modi about concluding the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between Australia and India. 

A successful G20 meeting hosted by @narendramodi in New Delhi today followed by a good bilateral discussion about concluding the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement between Australia and India pic.twitter.com/tglLOScrcJ

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) September 9, 2023

“A successful G20 meeting hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today followed by a good bilateral discussion about concluding the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement between Australia and India,” Albanese wrote on X.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived in New Delhi to participate in the G20 Summit on Friday. 

Earlier in May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a three-nation visit when he also visited Australia.

Australian PM said that PM Modi’s visit to Australia has strengthened the relationship between the two countries. 

“This is a relationship we need to invest in. Our strong partnership with India will deliver benefits for Australia in trade, investment and business and in regional security and stability,” Anthony Albanese said. 

Underscoring the value Australia gives to India, Albanese said that he met PM Modi six times. He also stated that Australia is a better place because of the contributions of the Indian-Australian community and he wanted to see more connections between the two countries. 

Meanwhile, on X, Mr Albanese said that Australia and India are working more closely together to boost renewable energy in both our countries. 

After concluding his visit, PM Modi thanked his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese for the hospitality during his Sydney visit, one which will “boost the friendship between Australia and India,” and noted that the two leaders will keep working towards a “vibrant India-Australia friendship,” which is also in the “interest of global good.”

This is the first time that the G20 Summit is being hosted by India. Extensive preparations have been made to portray India’s traditions and strengths.

During the presidency, India has focused on various issues like inclusive growth, digital innovation, climate resilience, and equitable global health access.

By leveraging its presidency, India is fostering collaborative solutions that benefit its own population and contribute to the broader global well-being.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Australian Prime Minister who is in Delhi to attend the G20 Summit taking place under India’s presidency on Saturday termed the G20 Summit hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “successful”. 

He stated that the New Delhi Summit was followed by a good bilateral discussion between the two leaders. 

In a post on X, the Australian Prime Minister informed about holding discussions with PM Modi about concluding the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between Australia and India. 

A successful G20 meeting hosted by @narendramodi in New Delhi today followed by a good bilateral discussion about concluding the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement between Australia and India pic.twitter.com/tglLOScrcJ

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) September 9, 2023

“A successful G20 meeting hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today followed by a good bilateral discussion about concluding the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement between Australia and India,” Albanese wrote on X.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived in New Delhi to participate in the G20 Summit on Friday. 

Earlier in May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a three-nation visit when he also visited Australia.

Australian PM said that PM Modi’s visit to Australia has strengthened the relationship between the two countries. 

“This is a relationship we need to invest in. Our strong partnership with India will deliver benefits for Australia in trade, investment and business and in regional security and stability,” Anthony Albanese said. 

Underscoring the value Australia gives to India, Albanese said that he met PM Modi six times. He also stated that Australia is a better place because of the contributions of the Indian-Australian community and he wanted to see more connections between the two countries. 

Meanwhile, on X, Mr Albanese said that Australia and India are working more closely together to boost renewable energy in both our countries. 

After concluding his visit, PM Modi thanked his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese for the hospitality during his Sydney visit, one which will “boost the friendship between Australia and India,” and noted that the two leaders will keep working towards a “vibrant India-Australia friendship,” which is also in the “interest of global good.”

This is the first time that the G20 Summit is being hosted by India. Extensive preparations have been made to portray India’s traditions and strengths.

During the presidency, India has focused on various issues like inclusive growth, digital innovation, climate resilience, and equitable global health access.

By leveraging its presidency, India is fostering collaborative solutions that benefit its own population and contribute to the broader global well-being.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)