HOST, JAYNIE SEAL: Joining us live is the Minister for Regional Development and Local Government, Kristy McBain. Minister, thank you very much for joining us. I haven't spoken to you since the horrific attack in Bondi more than a week ago now and, you know, it's obviously been a shock to the community in Australia, across the world. What has your local area been saying in regards to the reaction to the attack?

MINISTER FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TERRITORIES, KRISTY MCBAIN: Morning, Jaynie. I think, like every community, we're absolutely horrified and disgusted, what can be done because of ideological hate. And I think I speak for everyone when we say we don't want to see that anywhere else in Australia. There are 15 families who will spend Christmas without loved ones. There are a number of families who are still waiting for family members in hospital to come through serious and critical conditions. I think right now, as a nation, what we want to do is come together as a family, with our families over Christmas, and be thankful for what we have. I know that's what I'll be doing on Christmas Day.

HOST: There's so much pressure, Minister, for the government to have a Commonwealth Royal Commission. People are saying that it is needed. Why are you not going to have this?

MINISTER: Look, I think at this point in time what is driving our review into security intelligence agencies is the speed with which, particularly the Jewish community, wants some answers about what happened here. I think it's critically important that we do this as quickly as possible because we don't want to see anything like this happen again. I think Dennis Richardson is probably one of the most respected public servants across the nation, having been a former secretary of both the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, so pre-eminently qualified. But what I am hearing is that people want us to get answers as soon as possible.

HOST: Well, can your government ensure that you'll adopt every one of the anti-Semitic envoy recommendations by Jillian Segal? We know that was a big report that had been put forward months ago and some of it has already been implemented. But can your government assure that it will all be implemented and quickly?

MINISTER: Obviously, the government implemented the first special envoy into anti Semitism and appointed Jillian Siegel. We welcomed her report. There are a number of actions that had already been implemented as you've outlined. But obviously we've announced some additional actions from that report, including David Gonski to do a review, 12-month review, into tertiary education. Obviously, a number of new hate laws, particularly hate speech laws, which I think are critically important, and a range of new laws which will allow us to review hate speech, to deny visa applications. These are pretty stringent and complex laws. I don't think there's an immigration law in Australia that hasn't been tested in the High Court. So we want to make sure we get those right so that they can be implemented. But what I do want to say is that it is really important now that the way in which we talk about what happened is also critically important. We don't want to continue to sow hate, fear and division in our community and pull people apart. It is critically important we come together because we don't want to see this play out in any other realm. And unfortunately the threats of violence are continuing and increasing because of the way in which some people are talking about this attack. So, it is important for all of us to think carefully about the words that we're using when we're talking about this horrific anti-Semitic attack that occurred. It's important as leaders that we're measured with our words. Because unfortunately we are seeing an increase in those threats of violence in our community because of the way in which it is being framed by some people.

HOST: Minister, we have about a minute to go, but I did want to bring to our viewers’ attention to your campaign. Be the safe driver you believe you are. A lot of people are going to be on the roads over the next few days. What can you tell us?

MINISTER: Yeah, absolutely. We know a lot of people are going to be on the roads. We drive further than we do during the year to spend time with family and friends over the Christmas and summer break. So, don't let a car change who you are. There are five top tips. Drive to the conditions and the speed limit. Don't text and drive. Don't drink and drive. Make sure your car is road worthy and take regular breaks. We want you to get there safely. We want you to be able to spend time with family and friends over this break. But to do that, we all need to be mindful of how we act on our roads. I drive a lot of kilometres across my electorate and across the country, not in Christmas period, and I sometimes wonder why people are doing the things that they're doing. So, just make sure that you are taking care of other drivers on the road as well and getting yourself to your destination carefully.

HOST: Minister Kristy McBain, thank you very much for joining us. And we wish you and your family a safe and healthy Christmas. We'll see in 2026.

MINISTER: Merry Christmas.