Albanese’s response to the Bondi massacre will shape Australia’s future |
The massacre at Bondi Beach is already Albanese’s Port Arthur moment, the worst catastrophe he’s had to confront as prime minister.
It’s not a time for politicking, it’s a time for leadership.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaking to the media at Parliament House on Sunday night.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Fifteen victims are dead and dozens more injured after a father and son unleashed terror on a faith community, a city and a country. It will never be forgotten and many people will never recover.
In 1996, John Howard delivered the gold standard response by introducing world-leading gun control laws after Martin Bryant killed 35 people in Tasmania.
More importantly, Howard helped knit the country back together again after the massacre, famously staring down opposition to the gun laws while wearing a bulletproof vest.
That same job now confronts Albanese but, 30 years on from Port Arthur, this task is much more difficult.