Summary of the Article
John Howard has not accused Anthony Albanese of “betraying Australia” in a live broadcast after the Bondi Beach shooting, despite claims circulating online. These quotes attributed to Howard are fabricated and stem from pages that regularly post disinformation. AAP FactCheck confirms that while Howard has criticized Albanese regarding the attack, the specific quotes being shared are false.
The shooting occurred on December 14, 2025, when Sajid Akram and his son opened fire during a Jewish event, resulting in 15 deaths and numerous injuries. Following the attack, disinformation about the event and political responses has proliferated on social media.
A December 18 post from a disinformation page called “Swimming Times” falsely quotes Howard as criticizing Albanese during an interview. Another account, Swim Aquatics, also shared misleading quotes regarding Howard’s statements in parliament. Furthermore, AAP FactCheck notes that these pages have a history of spreading fake news involving various public figures.
In reality, Howard did speak out against the government’s handling of antisemitism and gun laws, but the quotes being circulated lack any basis in his actual public comments.
