Melbourne Holocaust Museum Reports Both Rise in Hate and Community Support Since Bondi Attack

Breann Fallon, chief executive of the Melbourne Holocaust Museum, said staff and volunteers have received an uptick in hateful comments and negativity since the Bondi terror attack, Abc reported. The attack killed 15 people at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach last year and is described as Australia's worst terror attack.

Fallon stated that museum staff answer the phone without knowing what to expect and must remain alert at all times.

She added that staff cannot exit their cars safely without checking their surroundings due to fear of antisemitic attacks. The museum also received trolling comments on social media, threatening emails, and threatening voice messages. The museum's submission to the royal commission noted that abuse declines after antisemitic incidents such as the Adass Israel synagogue firebombing and the Bondi attack, then resumes more frequently and with more vitriol.

Fallon said the museum received support from the broader community after the attack but also saw an increase in negativity. The museum's annual security budget rose from $19,000 in 2020 to $291,000 in 2025. The increased funds supported bollards to prevent ram raids, comprehensive CCTV systems, night-time security patrols, and a crisis support plan for staff.

Fallon is scheduled to give evidence at the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, which was announced after the Bondi attack. The commission will examine security at Jewish community sites this week before turning to education and policy frameworks. The Melbourne Holocaust Museum was founded in 1984 by Holocaust survivors.