January 21, 2026 • 13 mins
On today’s show, Christian O’Connell is joined by the Prime Minister to mark Australia’s National Day of Mourning following the Bondi attacks. Together, they discuss the meaning behind the national pause at one minute past seven, the symbolism of “Light Will Win,” and how Australians can show unity, remembrance and kindness during a time of grief. The conversation reflects on courage, community, and the stories of hope that emerge even in the darkest moments; reminding us what truly defines Australia.
This episode contains discussion of violence, terrorism, and loss, which some listeners may find distressing. Listener discretion is advised. If this conversation brings up difficult feelings, support is available. You can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 for 24/7 confidential support, or visit lifeline.org.au.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
iHeart podcasts. You can hear more Gold one I four
point three podcast playlist and listen live on the free
iHeart app.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Got anything good?
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Hey, this is the Christian O'Connell show podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Hey, good morning, This is the Christian O'Connell Show. Now,
today is a very important day. It is a national
day of Morning. Jun Next ten minutes, the Prime Minister's
going to be calling the show. Now, I know a
lot of you are new to the show and you're
trying to work out what there is show about. This
is not a show where we're going to have politicians
on every single week. Today is not a day for politics.
It's a day of remembrance, a day of coming together
(00:49):
after what happened after the atrocity in Bondai. So the
Prime Minister is the elected leader of this country, and
I thought we'd go right to top to find out
what is happening today at one minutes past seven and
what is the invitation for all of us tonight and
joined today to do how on a national day of morning?
So John, next ten minutes, the Prime Minister is on
the one thing that we can all take over. The
(01:11):
last couple of weeks, there were so many incredible acts
of selfless courage and kindness and that is the real
heart of Australia.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
The Christian O'Connell Show podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Now at any moment now we are going to be
taking a call from the Prime Minister who is calling
the show. Today very important day for all of us.
It is a national day of morning after the Bondai
attacks and to tell us all about it and why
this matters, and the invitation tonight as well. One minute
past seven is the Prime Minister, welcome back to the show.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Good to be with you.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Now tell us about today. This is a national day
of mourning. It's been builders light will win, a gathering
of unity and remembrance, which is beautiful. And what does
that mean to you, Prime Minister.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Well, it is words that have come from the spiritual
leader of the about Jewish unity there in Bondai, Rabbi Alma,
and I think they're very poetic and it says a
lot sometimes just a few words can This needs to
(02:21):
be a moment of remembrance for the fifteen innocent lives
that were taken on that devastating evening at Bondeau Beach,
but it also needs to be a message of hope.
That light will win. It was the first night of Harneka,
which the Jewish community celebrate the victory of light over darkness.
(02:45):
It's a really positive message of hope and a gathering
of unity. Is calling for all of us, those Australians,
Jewish and non Jewish, to commemorate the day in a
collective spirit, to remember why we are the greatest nation
(03:06):
on earth, That we are a nation that do respect
to each other. People of different faiths, different backgrounds have
come to make Australia their home and that unity is
what is so important going forward. So I think this
will be a moment of unity and a moment of hope,
(03:28):
but also an opportunity for Australia to look forward as
well and to cherish what makes us such a great nation.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Well said, I think it's a lovely thing. I think
it's a very important thing for all of us tonight.
So it's a one minute past seven And what is
it that you know there are a lot of people
listening all across Australia right now, Prime Minister, and so
your words can really help me tonight. What can people
do because people want to show solidarity. We're living in
very divided times. You know, around the world we see
the news. We see the news like Bondi happening here
(04:00):
as well. This doesn't feel like Australia. So remembrance is
also about remembering what it is what matters to us
to get around each other tonight. So what can people
do tonight at one minute past seven?
Speaker 2 (04:11):
That's right, well, at one minute past seven, we're asking
that the nation pause for a minute silence out of
respect for the victims of this terrorist attack. During the day,
flags will be flown at half masts at all come up,
and state buildings around the country, and buildings and landmarks
(04:32):
across the country like the mcg the story Bridge, Adelaide,
town Hall off the stadium will be lit up this
evening and we'll see an installation which is fifteen pillars
of light shining brightly into the night sky right across Australia.
And the other thing that people can do this evening
(04:55):
is light a candle and put it in their window
sill or the front of their home out of respect
as well as a symbol of remembrance of morning and
solidarity as well will be a thing. The other really
something that I have been lifted up by this concept
(05:20):
that the Jewish community have of a mitzvah, which is
essentially an active kindness, compassion and a way of reaching out.
It essentially can be volunteering, donating some money to a charity,
(05:40):
helping a neighbor, knocking on the door asking our people
okay who might be living alone or people who are lonely,
just an active kindness. It's a really lovely concept to
show that we are a country that value that attribute
(06:03):
that we have of kindness and generosity, and it is
a beautiful thing. I think that I've been spoken to
by a number of the family members who lost loved
ones in this tragedy, and it is a really positive
way of responding.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
I know you've spoken with a lot of the families,
you spent a lot of time with them. How are
they all doing? You know, it's you know, it's a
chance for us to show that tonight where we stand together,
but also we stand with them in their grief as well,
that they're not forgotten. I know time does move on,
but actually it's a chance for all of Australia to
stand together with the Jewish community and people who lost
(06:46):
their lives, but the families who are left behind without
those family members.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
That's right they are. You know, it's been an incredibly
tough period. These are people who were celebrating their faith
in an event at Bondo. Boots is such an iconic
location when people think about Australia, many of the shots
(07:14):
that will be taken overseas will be of that beautiful
beach and it's a place of peace and gathering and
the local community there. The Jewish community have gathered there
for many years for the first night of Harneker and
(07:35):
it's an open event. They have pets and things for
the children. They have a gathering with food and music
and it's a really positive event. And the fact that
(07:56):
fifteen people lost their lives but many more injured as well.
People are visited in hospitals, some are still doing it
incredibly incredibly tough. It's a difficult period and this is
a time where I think the whole of Australia can
wrap their arms around the community because it was a
(08:22):
deliberate and conscious evil targeting of the Jewish community as well.
It has had an impact on the entire Jewish Australian community.
So I think it is a way of us reaffirming
that we not only want people to celebrate their faith
(08:47):
and who they are. We all are enriched by the
diversity in our community, and we really want to see
tonight as and today is a real opportunity to reaffirm that.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
I think us love the invitation for us all. Tell
me this, we took those who are injured. How is armored?
I know that everyone want to know how is the
great man? How is armored? I understand he's obviously still
He's still going through his own journey of healing as well.
Is he in America at the moment getting treatment? Is
that right?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
He is now? I think he has returned. By understanding,
is that he is back here. He had Many of
the people who were injured essentially had shrapnel fragments and
still in them, and it's expected that there will be
(09:42):
a number of operations. Armed Hlhammad is so positive though
I visited him in hospital in the days after the attack.
He's a genuine hero and he, you know, is very
positive going forward. But many of the people is a
(10:04):
young man Yankee super who was a volunteer in what
is the Jewish version of Saint John's Ambulance will be
more familiar to to I think many of the listeners.
He has literally I've seen his x rays. He has
(10:31):
literally hundreds of bits of shrapnel still in him in
his torso he was unbelievable that he was able to survive.
When you see another X ray that shows a bullet
very close to his lung and one of the lungs
(10:54):
has been contracted as a lot smaller than the other one,
you literally can see the damage that's done. And you know,
he is so positive, it's extraordinary. I've met with him
a couple of times. He was in Canberra this week,
and I also met with him in Sydney, and he's
(11:16):
just a delightful young man who's absolutely determined to make
a positive contribution to the nation. And there's no bitterness,
There's nothing there but joy and pride. This is a
guy who you know, was there again one of the
(11:38):
people essentially running towards danger, helping out his fellow people,
fellow humanity. He's a remarkable young man. And I've been
privileged to meet so many courageous, thoughtful, positive people as
(12:03):
as a result of what occurred. It's been a real privilege.
They've been so generous in welcoming me into homes and
synagogues and having meetings. I've had them at Kirabilly House
and other members of the community have been at Amoralty House,
(12:28):
at the Governor Generals and this week I sat down
on Monday in my office in Parliament House and you know,
it's a community that is mourning, is going through an
incredibly difficult time, and I just hope and I'm sure
(12:49):
that it will be a positive, uplifting experience for them
today as much as it will also be very difficult.
They're very much missing their loved ones.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
I think it's a very important thing that we mark
today because I think it's also the show that we're
with the people who lost the loved ones, but also
also all those stories you just shared that we don't
know about, to show that we see what they did
and that's the true spirit of Australia. It's not the attack,
it's those stories you has talked about. That young guy
was shrappling in him, who ran towards danger. That's the
(13:29):
real story of what's happened over the last couple of weeks.
And that's why today really is a day to reflect
that back to those people as well and to show
the Jewish community that we stand united with them as well.
Prime Minister, I know you've got a lot on today.
Thank you very much for talking to us. It's at
one minute past seven tonight. That's right, isn't it light?
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Well, that's right, Thanks very much, Christian.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
The Christian O'Connell Show podcast
iHeart podcasts. You can hear more Gold one I four
point three podcast playlist and listen live on the free
iHeart app.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Got anything good?
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Hey, this is the Christian O'Connell show podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Hey, good morning, This is the Christian O'Connell Show. Now,
today is a very important day. It is a national
day of Morning. Jun Next ten minutes, the Prime Minister's
going to be calling the show. Now, I know a
lot of you are new to the show and you're
trying to work out what there is show about. This
is not a show where we're going to have politicians
on every single week. Today is not a day for politics.
It's a day of remembrance, a day of coming together
(00:49):
after what happened after the atrocity in Bondai. So the
Prime Minister is the elected leader of this country, and
I thought we'd go right to top to find out
what is happening today at one minutes past seven and
what is the invitation for all of us tonight and
joined today to do how on a national day of morning?
So John, next ten minutes, the Prime Minister is on
the one thing that we can all take over. The
(01:11):
last couple of weeks, there were so many incredible acts
of selfless courage and kindness and that is the real
heart of Australia.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
The Christian O'Connell Show podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Now at any moment now we are going to be
taking a call from the Prime Minister who is calling
the show. Today very important day for all of us.
It is a national day of morning after the Bondai
attacks and to tell us all about it and why
this matters, and the invitation tonight as well. One minute
past seven is the Prime Minister, welcome back to the show.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Good to be with you.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Now tell us about today. This is a national day
of mourning. It's been builders light will win, a gathering
of unity and remembrance, which is beautiful. And what does
that mean to you, Prime Minister.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Well, it is words that have come from the spiritual
leader of the about Jewish unity there in Bondai, Rabbi Alma,
and I think they're very poetic and it says a
lot sometimes just a few words can This needs to
(02:21):
be a moment of remembrance for the fifteen innocent lives
that were taken on that devastating evening at Bondeau Beach,
but it also needs to be a message of hope.
That light will win. It was the first night of Harneka,
which the Jewish community celebrate the victory of light over darkness.
(02:45):
It's a really positive message of hope and a gathering
of unity. Is calling for all of us, those Australians,
Jewish and non Jewish, to commemorate the day in a
collective spirit, to remember why we are the greatest nation
(03:06):
on earth, That we are a nation that do respect
to each other. People of different faiths, different backgrounds have
come to make Australia their home and that unity is
what is so important going forward. So I think this
will be a moment of unity and a moment of hope,
(03:28):
but also an opportunity for Australia to look forward as
well and to cherish what makes us such a great nation.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Well said, I think it's a lovely thing. I think
it's a very important thing for all of us tonight.
So it's a one minute past seven And what is
it that you know there are a lot of people
listening all across Australia right now, Prime Minister, and so
your words can really help me tonight. What can people
do because people want to show solidarity. We're living in
very divided times. You know, around the world we see
the news. We see the news like Bondi happening here
(04:00):
as well. This doesn't feel like Australia. So remembrance is
also about remembering what it is what matters to us
to get around each other tonight. So what can people
do tonight at one minute past seven?
Speaker 2 (04:11):
That's right, well, at one minute past seven, we're asking
that the nation pause for a minute silence out of
respect for the victims of this terrorist attack. During the day,
flags will be flown at half masts at all come up,
and state buildings around the country, and buildings and landmarks
(04:32):
across the country like the mcg the story Bridge, Adelaide,
town Hall off the stadium will be lit up this
evening and we'll see an installation which is fifteen pillars
of light shining brightly into the night sky right across Australia.
And the other thing that people can do this evening
(04:55):
is light a candle and put it in their window
sill or the front of their home out of respect
as well as a symbol of remembrance of morning and
solidarity as well will be a thing. The other really
something that I have been lifted up by this concept
(05:20):
that the Jewish community have of a mitzvah, which is
essentially an active kindness, compassion and a way of reaching out.
It essentially can be volunteering, donating some money to a charity,
(05:40):
helping a neighbor, knocking on the door asking our people
okay who might be living alone or people who are lonely,
just an active kindness. It's a really lovely concept to
show that we are a country that value that attribute
(06:03):
that we have of kindness and generosity, and it is
a beautiful thing. I think that I've been spoken to
by a number of the family members who lost loved
ones in this tragedy, and it is a really positive
way of responding.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
I know you've spoken with a lot of the families,
you spent a lot of time with them. How are
they all doing? You know, it's you know, it's a
chance for us to show that tonight where we stand together,
but also we stand with them in their grief as well,
that they're not forgotten. I know time does move on,
but actually it's a chance for all of Australia to
stand together with the Jewish community and people who lost
(06:46):
their lives, but the families who are left behind without
those family members.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
That's right they are. You know, it's been an incredibly
tough period. These are people who were celebrating their faith
in an event at Bondo. Boots is such an iconic
location when people think about Australia, many of the shots
(07:14):
that will be taken overseas will be of that beautiful
beach and it's a place of peace and gathering and
the local community there. The Jewish community have gathered there
for many years for the first night of Harneker and
(07:35):
it's an open event. They have pets and things for
the children. They have a gathering with food and music
and it's a really positive event. And the fact that
(07:56):
fifteen people lost their lives but many more injured as well.
People are visited in hospitals, some are still doing it
incredibly incredibly tough. It's a difficult period and this is
a time where I think the whole of Australia can
wrap their arms around the community because it was a
(08:22):
deliberate and conscious evil targeting of the Jewish community as well.
It has had an impact on the entire Jewish Australian community.
So I think it is a way of us reaffirming
that we not only want people to celebrate their faith
(08:47):
and who they are. We all are enriched by the
diversity in our community, and we really want to see
tonight as and today is a real opportunity to reaffirm that.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
I think us love the invitation for us all. Tell
me this, we took those who are injured. How is armored?
I know that everyone want to know how is the
great man? How is armored? I understand he's obviously still
He's still going through his own journey of healing as well.
Is he in America at the moment getting treatment? Is
that right?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
He is now? I think he has returned. By understanding,
is that he is back here. He had Many of
the people who were injured essentially had shrapnel fragments and
still in them, and it's expected that there will be
(09:42):
a number of operations. Armed Hlhammad is so positive though
I visited him in hospital in the days after the attack.
He's a genuine hero and he, you know, is very
positive going forward. But many of the people is a
(10:04):
young man Yankee super who was a volunteer in what
is the Jewish version of Saint John's Ambulance will be
more familiar to to I think many of the listeners.
He has literally I've seen his x rays. He has
(10:31):
literally hundreds of bits of shrapnel still in him in
his torso he was unbelievable that he was able to survive.
When you see another X ray that shows a bullet
very close to his lung and one of the lungs
(10:54):
has been contracted as a lot smaller than the other one,
you literally can see the damage that's done. And you know,
he is so positive, it's extraordinary. I've met with him
a couple of times. He was in Canberra this week,
and I also met with him in Sydney, and he's
(11:16):
just a delightful young man who's absolutely determined to make
a positive contribution to the nation. And there's no bitterness,
There's nothing there but joy and pride. This is a
guy who you know, was there again one of the
(11:38):
people essentially running towards danger, helping out his fellow people,
fellow humanity. He's a remarkable young man. And I've been
privileged to meet so many courageous, thoughtful, positive people as
(12:03):
as a result of what occurred. It's been a real privilege.
They've been so generous in welcoming me into homes and
synagogues and having meetings. I've had them at Kirabilly House
and other members of the community have been at Amoralty House,
(12:28):
at the Governor Generals and this week I sat down
on Monday in my office in Parliament House and you know,
it's a community that is mourning, is going through an
incredibly difficult time, and I just hope and I'm sure
(12:49):
that it will be a positive, uplifting experience for them
today as much as it will also be very difficult.
They're very much missing their loved ones.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
I think it's a very important thing that we mark
today because I think it's also the show that we're
with the people who lost the loved ones, but also
also all those stories you just shared that we don't
know about, to show that we see what they did
and that's the true spirit of Australia. It's not the attack,
it's those stories you has talked about. That young guy
was shrappling in him, who ran towards danger. That's the
(13:29):
real story of what's happened over the last couple of weeks.
And that's why today really is a day to reflect
that back to those people as well and to show
the Jewish community that we stand united with them as well.
Prime Minister, I know you've got a lot on today.
Thank you very much for talking to us. It's at
one minute past seven tonight. That's right, isn't it light?
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Well, that's right, Thanks very much, Christian.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
The Christian O'Connell Show podcast
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