Press conference on Bondi attack with Anthony Albanese, Nigel Ryan and Mike Burgess
Transcript of press conference with Anthony Albanese, Nigel Ryan and Mike Burgess, Director General of ASIO
PRESS CONFERENCE
CANBERRA
SUNDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2025
SUBJECT: Bondi Terrorist Attack.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I am joined tonight by Nigel Ryan, the Acting Deputy Commissioner for National Security for the AFP, and Mike Burgess, the Director-General of ASIO. And we don’t normally talk and confirm meetings of the National Security Committee, but I think at this moment it is appropriate to tell Australians that the National Security Committee was convened as a matter of urgency and we have just come from it. This afternoon, there has been a devastating terrorist incident at Bondi at the Chanukah by the Sea celebration. This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Chanukah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith. An act of evil, antisemitism, and terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation. An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian, and every Australian tonight will be like me, devastated by this attack on our way of life.
Anthony Albanese
There is no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation. Let me be clear – we will eradicate it. Amidst this vile act of violence and hate will emerge a moment of national unity where Australians across the board will embrace their fellow Australians of Jewish faith. At this dark moment for our nation, our police and security agencies are working to determine anyone associated with this outrage. Our agencies will provide you with factual updates as quickly as possible as they continue to emerge. The evil that was unleashed at Bondi Beach today is beyond comprehension, and the trauma and loss that families are dealing with tonight is beyond anyone’s worst nightmare. Australians have had their lives cruelly stolen and many have been injured for all Australians, our first thoughts are with those in the terrible early hours of their grief.
We are also thinking of everyone being treated for their injuries and many of whom are alive right now because of the courage and quick action of the NSW Police and the first responders who rushed to their aid, as well as the courage of everyday Australians who without hesitating, put themselves in danger in order to keep their fellow Australians safe. We have seen Australians today run towards danger in order to help others. These Australians are heroes, and their bravery has saved lives. As Prime Minister, I say on behalf of all Australians to the Jewish community, we stand with you.
We embrace you and we reaffirm tonight that you have every right to be proud of who you are and what you believe. You have the right to worship and study and live and work in peace and safety. And you enrich us as a nation. You should never have to endure the loss that you have suffered today. You should never know the fear that you know tonight. We will dedicate every resource required to making sure you are safe and protected.
You are Australian and all Australians are with you today and every day. My fellow Australians, I say tonight that there are nights that tear at our nation’s soul in this moment of darkness. We must be each other’s light. Hold on to the true character of the country that we love. Australia is stronger than the cowards who attacked innocent people today. Australia is braver than those who seek to make us afraid. Australia will never submit to division, violence or hatred. We will see justice done and we will come through this together. I’d ask Acting Deputy Commissioner Ryan to make some comments and then Director-General Burgess.
NIGEL RYAN, ACTING DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR NATIONAL SECURITY FOR THE AFP: Thank you, Prime Minister. Firstly, our thoughts go out to the families and communities that have been affected by this senseless attack today, the AFP stands next to the NSW Police and with ASIO in our joint counterterrorism arrangements, and we’ll put all resources we can, all our specialist powers, and all our specialist resources towards ensuring that this matter is investigated as thoroughly as possible.
In relation to the joint counterterrorism team, we have heard that there has been a declaration of a terrorist incident that will enable the AFP along with ASIO and NSW Police to use specialist powers in relation to this investigation. I don’t wish to speculate in relation to any of the information that is currently known. This matter is ongoing. It is in its early stages, and we will continue to work with NSW Police to ensure that it’s investigated as best as possible. Thank you.
MIKE BURGESS, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF ASIO: Thanks, Nigel. Thanks, PM. ASIO was also a member of the joint counterterrorism team and our principal role at this stage is to support the police in their ongoing investigation. But at the same time, as is standard practice for us, we are looking at the identities of the attackers and where that is known, we’re looking to see if there is anyone in the community that has similar intent. It’s important to stress at this point, we have no indications to that fact, but that is something we have active investigations on. The national terrorism threat level remains at probable. I don’t see that changing at this stage. Probable means there is a 50 per cent chance of an act of terror, and unfortunately, we’ve seen that horrific act occur tonight in Australia. Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER: A few questions.
JOURNALIST: You’ve called this terror. Are you aware of any other terror threats at the moment? And what’s your message to Jewish Australians who may not feel safe in Australia tonight?
PRIME MINISTER: My message to Jewish Australians is that your fellow Australians stand with you tonight in condemning this act of terror, in condemning this outrage. I spoke with, I’ve had a number of conversations with people tonight. One of the Jewish community leaders said to me that we know where antisemitism leads, that it leads to an attack on everyone, not just Jewish Australians. And this attack at Bondi Beach, of all places, a place of celebration, a place where people particularly in Sydney but from all over the world, come to enjoy each other’s company and to, in this case at the Bondi Pavilion there. I’m very familiar with that pavilion. This senseless attack is one which is an act of terror. It is aimed at creating fear. But we will stand with the Jewish community and Jewish Australians at this time.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, in light of this attack, is the government going to move on any of the recommendations in the Special Envoy’s Report on Antisemitism in Australia?
PRIME MINISTER: We’re continuing to, to work on all of those issues, including one of the things that you’ll see is a request that had previously been made to be included, in additional funding for security, as well. And I know that it is, you know, this is an incredibly tough time for the community to deal with this. It’s important that they don’t deal with it alone. That everyone stand with them at this time.
JOURNALIST: Left unchecked, as you were just saying, antisemitism leads to terrorism and violence targeting the innocent. Your government has come under criticism in claiming that it has effectively responded to the rise of antisemitism in Australia since October 7, 2023. In September, your government recognised a Palestinian state. Your ministers have attacked the Israeli Government. Senior ministers refused to visit the sites of the October 7 massacres. And you created a Special Islamophobia Envoy alongside an Antisemitism Envoy. Have you taken the threat of antisemitism seriously? And can you guarantee the safety of Jewish Australians?
PRIME MINISTER: Yes, we have taken it seriously, and we’ve continued to act. We’ve continued to work with Jewish community leaders. We’ve continued to take all the advice from the security agencies to put in place, special measures, and we will continue to do so.
JOURNALIST: For Mr Burgess or Deputy Commissioner Ryan. Mr Burgess, you’ve been warning for a long time about the risk of this sort of attack, localised extremism. Were any of these people on your watch list? I think the New South Wales Commissioner just said they were aware of one of these characters, that they were keeping an eye on him. Was anybody on either of your radar at all?
DIRECTOR-GENERAL BURGESS: So, it’s too, too early to give you any more details, Phil, other than to say like the NSW Police, one of these individuals was known to us, but not in an immediate threat perspective. So obviously we need to look into what happened here.
JOURNALIST: Mr Burgess, you’ve mentioned the chance of another attack is probable, or 50 per cent. I’m just wondering how – does that mean that there is still a one in two chance of a follow-up attack? And does ASIO or the other security agencies take more precautions now that you’ve seen such a devastating attack?
DIRECTOR-GENERAL BURGESS: So, national terrorism threat level is probable’ means there’s a 50 per cent chance. So, one in two. Of course, that doesn’t mean to say there’s a connection to an immediate attack following this one. That is subject to our ongoing investigation. We have no indications that that is the concern at this stage. But of course, we will work 24 by seven along with our police colleagues to make sure that is the case.
JOURNALIST: Mr Burgess, given the events of earlier today, why – can you sort of expand on your decision to leave the terrorist threat level at probable? Do you envisage that you will have further conversations about potentially adjusting the terrorism threat level in the coming days?
DIRECTOR-GENERAL BURGESS: The national terrorism threat level is under constant review. One incident by itself does not necessarily raise the threat level at a national level, but we keep that under constant review.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you.
