<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Former Prime Minister John Howard has said that the "gruesome" death toll of the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/bondi" rel="" target="" title="Bondi"><span>Bondi</span></a><span> terrorist attack would have been "infinitely bigger" if not for the major </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/gun-control" rel="" target="" title="gun reforms"><span>gun reforms</span></a><span> following the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/port-arthur" rel="" target="" title="Port Arthur"><span>Port Arthur</span></a><span> massacre.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speaking to the media, Howard said there was "little doubt" that not enough had been done to counter the spread of antisemitism since October 7, 2023.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I hope that this terrible event will be a wake-up call to those who have been asleep at the wheel," he said.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-heroic-man-disarms-gunman-turns-weapon-on-him/4d5e1253-c12c-4a84-9d42-b92fa175744b" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Bondi hero would 'do it again' despite being 'riddled with bullets'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It disabused everybody at this idea that it can't happen here, it can happen here," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The former Prime Minister said he did not believe </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/anthony-albanese" rel="" target="" title="Anthony Albanese"><span>Anthony Albanese</span></a><span> and Foreign Minister Penny Wong had done enough when it came to preventing the spread of antisemitism, but he wouldn't go "further than that".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Clearly, the people to blame for the murders are the murderers, and that's apparent," he said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/former-pm-calls-mass-shooting-a-wakeup-call/fb0353c6-cec1-422e-8d2a-ef5b0b6ba826" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, Howard did excoriate the government's breakdown in its relationship with </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/israel" rel="" target="" title="Israel"><span>Israel</span></a><span> during the invasion of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/gaza" rel="" target="" title="Gaza"><span>Gaza</span></a><span> that followed Hamas's October 7 attacks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-injured-40-in-hospitals-across-sydney-news/241a8dfd-ca5f-4939-bab2-4de5478806ba" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Dozens remain in hospitals after Bondi shooting, some fighting for life</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"(Albanese's) greatest failure is not to provide the moral leadership that a prime minister can in denouncing antisemitism," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The impression I had was that every time he got onto the subject, he would equate it with discrimination generally."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Howard suggested that if </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="" title="Australia"><span>Australia</span></a><span> had not enacted major reform on gun control following the Port Arthur massacre, Sunday's "gruesome" death toll could have been "infinitely bigger".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The crack down, which made automatic and semi-automatic weapons illegal, was spearheaded by Howard's first government.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today, he said the focus on gun control was "welcome, always", but that the broader issue of antisemitism should be the focus.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>If you have been impacted by the terror attack in Bondi there is support available.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>To contact Lifeline Australia, call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>For people under 25 years old, you can contact Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>Both of these are available on a 24/7 basis.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>If you wish to donate blood, you can find your nearest donor centre</span></em><span> </span><a href="https://www.lifeblood.com.au/donor-centre" target="_blank" title=""><em><span>here</span></em></a><em><span>.</span></em></div></div>