Albanese says he feels 'weight of responsibility' after Bondi as Labor criticises Coalition for politicising terror attack

Anthony Albanese has apologised to Australia's Jewish community, saying he feels "the weight of responsibility" after the terror attack on Bondi beach, as Labor begins to push back against Coalition criticism.

The day after he was booed at a Sunday night vigil in Bondi, the prime minister told a Canberra press conference that he understood the community's anger towards him.

"Emotions were raw, and a lot of people in the community are hurting and angry, and some of that anger was directed towards me, and I understand that," Albanese said.

"As prime minister, I feel the weight of responsibility for an atrocity that happened whilst I'm prime minister, and I'm sorry for what the Jewish community and our nation as a whole has experienced."

After days of escalating attacks from the Coalition over its handling of antisemitism in the lead-up to the massacre, Labor criticised the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, for political point-scoring on Monday.

Ley had earlier accused the foreign minister, Penny Wong, of failing to shed "a single tear" over the deaths of 15 Australians at the 14 December Hanukah celebration, and said Wong had not attended funerals for any of the victims.

But the finance minister, Katy Gallagher, said she was surprised and disappointed by political attacks so soon after a mass shooting.

"I can't think of another time in this country's history where there has been a terrorist event like this, a terrorist attack on Australian citizens, whether it be here or internationally, where the opposition has chosen to take the path that they have this week," Gallagher said.

"I think in almost every other example you would have seen the opposition work with the government and try to work with the government. That has not been the approach, and I think that's incredibly unfortunate."

Wong did not respond to Ley's accusations. On Monday afternoon, she posted a photo to social media of herself signing the condolence book at Parliament House "in honour of the victims of the antisemitic terror attack at Bondi".

Asked about the political broadsides, Albanese said he would not be drawn on partisanship.

"Some have been critical of me avoiding partisan comments this week. I'll continue to do so."

The government has faced a barrage of criticism from Jewish community leaders, who have accused the prime minister and Labor of failing to crack down on antisemitism since the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas.

On Thursday, Albanese announced new details of measures to target "hate preachers" by increasing penalties on hate speech laws, introducing new vilification powers.

On Sunday, the government announced a review into Asio and other federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

On Monday Albanese defended the decision not to launch a federal royal commission into the attack, despite growing calls from the Coalition and some Labor MPs.

The New South Wales Labor government has promised a state royal commission, which the prime minister said the intelligence review would contribute to.