Former Labor Senator Nova Peris and Indigenous businessman Nyunggai Warren Mundine say the antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi on Sunday must be a "catalyst for change", arguing antisemitism in Australia has been allowed to fester.

In a statement issued under the banner of the Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem (IEJ) — a pro-Israel organisation that says it exists to "oppose antisemitism and affirm Jewish indigeneity" — Ms Peris joined former ALP national president Mr Mundine, New Zealand politician Alfred Ngaro and Te Arawa historian Sheree Trotter in saying Australia's Jewish population had been subjected to more than 1,500 antisemitic incidents since the Hamas terror attacks of October 7.

"As friends and allies of the Jewish people, we have watched as the pleas from our Jewish brothers and sisters have gone unheeded or have been dismissed," the statement said.

"No more. Now is the time to take their voices seriously."

The statement pointed to a series of incidents over the past two years, including alleged antisemitic chanting at the Sydney Opera House two days after the October 7 attacks, the firebombing and vandalism of synagogues, and threats directed at Jewish schools.

"No one can credibly say, 'we didn't see this coming,'" it read. "Nor can we plead ignorance about the forces that fuelled this hatred."

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The antisemitic attack on Sunday, which killed 15 people — including a 10-year-old child — has sparked widespread outrage and renewed criticism of the government from Jewish groups, conservative media and the opposition over its handling of antisemitism.

The massacre occurred at one of Australia's most iconic beaches, where hundreds had gathered to mark the first day of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. It is the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since the Port Arthur massacre in 1996.

Police allege the attack was carried out by Naveed Akram, 24, and his 50-year-old father, who died at the scene. NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon described the incident as a deliberate assault on the Jewish community.

Akram, who has remained under police guard in hospital since Sunday, was charged on Wednesday with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.

The IEJ said the attack must serve as both a "catalyst for change" and a "moment to confront the root causes of antisemitism".

"We call on leaders and governments in Australia, New Zealand and across the globe to stand up against Jew hatred, in whichever form it manifests," the statement said.

"To take substantive steps to change the culture of hatred and violence that has festered over the past two years. If, at this time, we can not take a strong and principled stand for the values that made our societies great — life, dignity and freedom — those values will be lost and the voices of Jew hatred will prevail."

On Thursday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged more could have been done to address antisemitism since October 2023, and said he had been troubled by language and misinformation at some pro-Palestine protests.

"Of course more could have always been done. Governments aren't perfect. I'm not perfect. We have engaged in a constructive way ... There wasn't a special envoy on antisemitism before this government came to office," Mr Albanese said.

"My heart goes out to what is a community that are suffering that have been targeted.

"More could have been done, and I accept my responsibility for the part in that as prime minister of Australia, but what I also do is accept my responsibility to lead the nation, and unite the nation."

The PM announced a five-point plan to combat antisemitism, including measures targeting "hate preachers" and those who incite violence.

Ms Peris, who has been vocal in her support for Israel and was among several First Nations Australians who travelled to Israel this year as part of a delegation hosted by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC), has previously faced criticism over her social media activity — which included inflammatory content about Islam.

National Indigenous Times reported the Gija, Yawuru and Gagudju woman and former Olympian shared posts describing Muslims as "Satan worshipping cockroaches [that] need to be eradicated", as well as an image depicting a cracked dam wall labelled "Israel" holding back a flood of "radical Islam" threatening Europe.

Last year, Ms Peris resigned from the Australian Republic Movement following a dispute with her co-chair Craig Foster, who had written to Football Australia calling for Israel's suspension. At the time, she said: "We should be upholding truth and we should be upholding objective dialogue, rather than smear tactics and inaccurate language around genocide and apartheid."