Anthony Albanese has paid his respects as the final victim of the Bondi Beach terror attack was laid to rest, marking the first funeral the Prime Minister has attended.
Peter ‘Marzo’ Meagher, 61, a former NSW police officer who was taking photographs when the massacre took place, was farewelled in a moving service at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney on Wednesday. Fifteen innocent people were killed in the attack.
It was the first funeral for a Bondi victim attended by the Prime Minister, who said previously he would only go if specifically invited.
Albanese avoided public attention before the service, entering the cathedral via a side entrance rather than the main steps.
At the conclusion, he rejoined mourners to offer quiet condolences, touching the casket with Holy Water as friends and relatives gathered around.
The Prime Minister later stood alongside Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, Attorney-General Michael Daley, senior police and a line of MPs to form a guard of honour as Mr Meagher’s coffin was carried from the cathedral and placed in a waiting hearse.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, NSW Premier Chris Minns, Governor-General Sam Mostyn and other senior figures joined hundreds more in paying tribute to the much-loved former officer.
However, footage of Albanese inside the cathedral ignited criticism online, as some questioned why he attended as he refuses launch a royal commission, despite facing pressure from politicians, sports stars and the Australian-Jewish community.
Peter ‘Marzo’ Meagher (pictured) was a retired police officer, who was taking photos at the Bondi event
Anthony Albanese (pictured) placed Holy Water on the coffin of Peter Meagher
‘This has to be a joke. Why is he even there?’ one person wrote.
‘Anything except facing the questions he should answer,’ another posted.
‘Royal commission now,’ a third demanded.
During the service, Mr Meagher’s brother David commented on the political fallout around the tragedy.
‘What happened in Bondi on December 14 was undoubtedly an attack on Jewish people, that is not in dispute,’ he said.
He recalled hearing from a prominent Australian: ‘Speaking about the Bondi attack, I heard a very famous Australian say: “This is not a gun problem, this is an antisemitism problem”.’
David said his family did not wish to enter the controversy.
‘But when I heard this, I thought, “Why can’t it be two things at once?” Just as we must ask why those [alleged] killers did what they did, we must also ask how they were able to do it.’
NSW Police formed a guard of honour as the hearse carrying Mr Meagher’s coffin departed
Albanese (right) attended the funeral alongside NSW Premier Chris Minns (left)
After the Bondi attack, the NSW government introduced tighter firearm laws, restricting recreational licence holders to four guns, while farmers and primary producers may still keep up to ten.
David questioned whether the changes would truly improve safety.
‘Gun reform alone will not solve hatred or extremism, but an anti-Semite without a gun is just a hate-filled person. An anti-Semite with a gun is a killer,’ he said.
His wife, Virginia, joined his brothers Greg, Andrew and Paul in saying their final goodbyes during the moving service.
At the start of the ceremony, a collection of cherished items – a police badge, his Randwick rugby jersey, a camera and a jar of lollies reflecting his ‘extraordinary sweet tooth’ – were arranged on a table beside Mr Meagher’s casket.
On Wednesday morning before the funeral, Sussan Ley renewed her calls for an inquiry, echoing demands from grieving families and prominent community leaders.
‘Australians are watching. Victims’ families are waiting. The moment for leadership is now,’ she told reporters in Sydney.
‘What is the Prime Minister hiding? And why is he still refusing to listen?’
Peter Meagher’s brother David (pictured) questioned whether gun reform was enough
Sussan Ley (pictured) renewed her calls for a Royal Commission into the attack on Wednesday
This week, reports indicated Albanese had begun softening his stance, with insiders saying he may privately be open to reconsidering his opposition.
But when pressed on Tuesday about reversing his position on a royal commission, Albanese declined to confirm any change.
‘I continue to be engaged with leaders in the Jewish community. I’m talking and meeting on a daily basis with people to make sure that we do everything that is possible,’ he said from Cloncurry, where he met residents affected by the northern Queensland floods.