The daughter of an elderly man wounded in the Bondi Beach terror attack has launched a searing critique of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation during a live television interview, accusing the national broadcaster of biased reporting that she claims has impacted the Jewish community.
A Father's Ordeal and a Daughter's Anger
Speaking to hosts James Glenday and Virginia Trioli on ABC's News Breakfast, Victoria Teplitsky recounted the harrowing moments her 86-year-old father was shot. Her father, a Holocaust survivor, was at a venue to celebrate Hanukkah when gunmen attacked. As he attempted to flee, he was struck in the lower leg, suffering a severe wound. His quick-thinking girlfriend used her belt as a tourniquet to stem the bleeding, likely saving his life before he underwent surgery.
Ms Teplitsky framed her father's life story as one of repeated survival, from anti-Semitism in the former Soviet Union to building a new life in Australia for his family. "He brought us here to Australia because he didn't want my brother and I to go through the same experience," she said, adding that this safety felt secure for many years until the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
A Direct Challenge to Leaders and the Media
When asked about her feelings following the Bondi attack, Teplitsky's response was one of raw frustration directed at the nation's political leaders and the public broadcaster. "How are we feeling? Is this what you wanted? Is this enough now? Will you listen to us?" she demanded, directly naming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Her criticism then turned squarely to the ABC. "And ABC, I've got to say, will you cut out the biased reporting … will you cut it out? Will you let us have a voice?" She argued that media coverage since October 7 has contributed to a "massive change" for Jewish people in Australia, compelling her, a secular Jewish woman, to begin wearing her Star of David necklace publicly. "If you have something to say, you can say it to me. ABC please stop with the biased reporting," she stated.
Broadcaster's Response and Lingering Questions
Co-host Virginia Trioli offered sympathy for the family's trauma but did not engage with the specific allegations about the ABC's editorial stance. "Victoria we are so sorry for what you have been through and what you're going through and we really hope that your father recovers," Trioli said. "I know all of us here … we are horrified by what is going on, so thank you for joining us and sharing your story."
The interview has since sparked wider debate about media responsibility, the rise of anti-Semitic sentiment, and the personal impact of global conflicts on diaspora communities in Australia. Ms Teplitsky's unfiltered comments have placed a stark human face on these complex issues, challenging both politicians and the press to reflect on their role in the national discourse.
