The funeral for 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim of the Bondi Beach mass shooting, drew a large outpouring of grief in Sydney, with mourners laying flowers, photos and toys at the service. Her family—emigrants from Ukraine—recounted her final moments while the community honoured the dead with memorials, including crocheted butterflies. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced legislative plans to toughen penalties for hate speech, empower visa decisions, and launch a 12-month education task force to combat antisemitism. The Australian Federal Police are pursuing investigations into alleged hate preachers and will carry out further search warrants.
‘So Young, So Innocent’: 10-Year-Old Matilda Buried After Bondi Beach Mass Shooting As PM Pledges Tougher Action On Hate
Image shows 10-year-old Matilda at Bondi Beach, Sydney on December 14, 2025. - Family Handout
Mourners in Sydney on Thursday laid to rest 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim of the Bondi Beach mass shooting, who was wounded while celebrating Hanukkah with her family. The funeral was marked by flowers, framed photos, dolls and stuffed animals, and attended by local community members and political figures.
Funeral And Community Grief
Video from the service showed attendees carrying bouquets, framed pictures of Matilda and toys that reflected the deep sense of loss across the community. At a nearby makeshift memorial, a woman said she had crocheted 15 butterflies to honour each of the people killed; 'the one in the middle is a brightly colored blue one and that’s for Matilda,' she told CGTN.
Matilda had been attending a Hanukkah event with her parents, a younger sister and friends when the gunfire began. She was rushed to hospital but could not be saved. In a tearful interview at a memorial event, her mother Valentyna described watching her daughter 'running around happy and then… lying on the ground,' words that captured the suddenness and horror of the attack.
Family Background
The family emigrated from Ukraine to Australia in the 1990s. Matilda’s aunt Lina said the family treasured simple outings—beach walks, picnics and trips to the zoo. Valentyna, still breathless and grieving, said she 'could not imagine I would lose my daughter here' after leaving Ukraine.
Government Response And Proposed Reforms
As the nation mourns what officials describe as Australia’s worst mass shooting in nearly three decades, the federal government promised legislative changes aimed at curbing hate-driven violence and online radicalization. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said reforms will increase penalties for hate speech, make hate speech an aggravating factor in sentencing for online threats and harassment, and create a system to list organisations whose leaders promote violence or racial hatred.
'There is no place in Australia for antisemitism,' Albanese said. 'Australians are shocked and angry — I am angry.'
The home affairs minister will be granted new powers to cancel or refuse visas for people who spread hate or would likely do so if admitted to the country. Albanese also announced a 12-month task force to ensure the education system 'prevents, tackles and responds to antisemitism.' These measures are intended to address both immediate threats and the longer-term drivers of communal violence.
Police Investigation
The Australian Federal Police said they are investigating alleged hate preachers in connection with the attack and plan to execute additional search warrants. Commissioner Krissy Barrett, reflecting on her recent visit to Sydney, paid tribute to the victims and singled out Matilda: 'She was so young, she was so innocent, and my heart is so heavy for her family.'
The community continues to grieve and call for action as authorities pursue both criminal investigations and policy responses aimed at preventing future tragedies.
