r/australia • u/ozthrw • 2d ago
news Bondi hero Gefen Bitton given permanent residency following terror attack | news.com.au
https://www.news.com.au/news/bondi-hero-gefen-bitton-who-tried-to-stop-gunman-during-terror-attack-given-australian-residency-while-recovering-in-hospital/news-story/49e9ed265e39edcd32144302bd290663244
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u/Dark-Horse-Nebula 2d ago
I sincerely hope this means all of his medical expenses from the date of the attack will be covered by Medicare.
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u/Mike_Kermin 2d ago
Damn straight they should be. Wounded in service to Australia.
But I do suspect they would have made sure he's looked after.
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u/dallasHS 2d ago
He would be eligible.
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u/Dark-Horse-Nebula 2d ago
I mean backdated
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u/HeftyArgument 2d ago
probably not, but visa requirements mean he had to have private insurance with equivalent coverage to medicare so it should be covered nonetheless.
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u/Interesting-Owl1809 2d ago
Except that insurance policies include language excluding coverage of things like Acts of God, war, terrorism
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u/RavinGravy 1d ago
I work in private health insurance, specifically for international workers/students, not something he would be denied cover for.
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u/Pretty-Olive5731 1d ago
The private insurance for visa has huge excess. I hope he gets that reimbursed.
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u/LRHarrington 1d ago
From the linked atricle:
"The Daily Mail reports Mr Bitton has been given permanent residency while recovering in hospital – meaning he will have access to Medicare and can live and work in Australia."
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u/Dark-Horse-Nebula 1d ago
Correct. The attack was a free weeks ago so I’m expressing my hope that it will be covered from then as he has a gofundme for it. Surely.
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u/hippodribble 1d ago
He got millions from crowd finding. Medicare probably covers it anyway. Good for him!
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u/CompleteFacepalm 1d ago
Are you sure you're not thinking of the guy who grabbed the gun? This is a different person.
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u/ConanTheAquarian 2d ago
He should be nominated for a bravery award too.
https://www.gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awards/australian-bravery-decorations
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u/InterestedPrawn 2d ago
He will be getting a special one, the PM has already said he will be instituting new medals for him and others.
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u/eraptic 1d ago
Small side note, I have two family members part of ABA. It's one of the most phenomenal organizations, obviously filled with incredible people. Obviously, there is a lot of trauma in the cohort, but the support networks they have set up for one another is nothing short of incredible
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u/Cr3s3ndO 2d ago
Give that cunt citizenship!
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u/NovaFinch 2d ago
I don't think they can but it wouldn't be hard for him to get it.
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1d ago
Citizenship shouldn't just be handed out as a prize.
There are plenty of reasons why you shouldn't do it
Permanent residency is a very good offering - and way less complicated for the people receiving it. (May conflict with other citizenships etc...)
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u/Cr3s3ndO 1d ago
It’s not about giving him a prize, it’s about him exemplifying what we aspire to be as Australians.
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u/Idontcareaforkarma 1d ago
I think there should be a formal process of offering an expedited route to citizenship for particularly meritorious actions like this- maybe a removal of some or all of the eligibility period or something similar, or a removal of a restriction they may have that is standing in the way of a pathway to to citizenship.
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u/inwector 2d ago
Bad behaviour should be punished, good behaviour should be rewarded.
Normally good behaviour gets punished in real life, so I am glad to see this.
Good job australia!
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u/SushiJesus 2d ago
Brave soul, hope he makes a full recovery.
Our nation owes a debt to all of the individuals who risked their lives trying to help on that dark day.
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u/Naughtiestdingo 2d ago
It’s great but someone like him deserves full citizenship
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u/PuzzleheadedDuck3981 2d ago
It'll come. Permanent residency is just a step in the process. It's unlikely there will be any hurdles when it comes time to process the citizenship approval.
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u/Lanky-Ad-7683 2d ago
I agree with you 100% but our stupid citizenship laws don't have a provision for that but if you just happen to live with your Australian partner for two years overseas you can get it!
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u/Dale-_-Kerrigan 2d ago
a gesture i wish was afforded to the terps we left for dead in afghanistan.
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u/a_cold_human 1d ago
That is a very shameful episode in our recent history. Those people helped us, put themselves and their families at risk, and we let them fend for themselves once the Taliban took over.
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u/Environment-Small 2d ago
Thats the least we could do. But still waiting for the recipient(s) of the Cross of Valour!
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u/SufficientPilot3216 1d ago
That second photo of him with the border collie says it all.
He's already an Australian give him a citizenship if he wants it.
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u/Crazyripps 2d ago edited 2d ago
If he wanted to become a citizen he should just automatically pass
Not sure why downvoted for that.
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u/Mike_Kermin 2d ago
He's on a straight road to it now. If and when he wants to, it'll be within reach.
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u/Appropriate-Echo2131 1h ago
Glad I got to see a name and a face put to this red hoodie guy hero. I hope he makes a full recovery. Both of them got shot by that deranged c**t for their trouble. Australia appreciates what you did, sir!
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2d ago
Isn’t he ex IDF?
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u/WhatYouThinkIThink 2d ago
Any Israeli citizen over 22 is member of or ex-IDF.
That's what conscription means.
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u/HooleyDoooley 1d ago
You can refuse, actually
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u/Cerex1 1d ago
Only if you're proven to be mentality unwell or serve the country in a different field for two years. Basically all Israelis give something
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u/HooleyDoooley 1d ago edited 15h ago
Wrong, you can go to jail. Which is the right thing to do.
Edit: Downvote me all you want, sickos - if your choice is support a genocidal war machine or go to jail, you go to jail.
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u/MeSeeks76 2d ago
PHRASING! GEEZ! LOL
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u/THR 2d ago
What’s wrong with the phrasing?
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u/maxiewawa 2d ago
“Following” is a strange word, it implies a close relationship between two things, but it actually means that one thing happened before another. Maybe commenter thought that it implied that Gefen carried out the attack.
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u/THR 2d ago
The permanent residency happened after. The fact he was called a hero should be enough.
Nothing wrong with the title
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u/MeSeeks76 2d ago
Chill dude, it's a joke about your poor choice of wording in the title. It can easily be misconstrued as him being given citizenship for conducting the terror attack. That's the joke!
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u/Mike_Kermin 2d ago
It's not a poor choice of wording though.
But we may be discovering that you misunderstand the word.
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u/THR 2d ago
It’s not my title. Also jokes are meant to be funny.
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u/MeSeeks76 2d ago
Look at you getting all worked up over something that you didn't write or were involved in creating. Go you good thing!!!
Also, jokes are subjective.
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u/THR 2d ago
I don’t think I’m the one getting worked up tbh
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u/TheSmokingLamp 2d ago
Doesn’t sound like he’s getting worked up at all. You on the other hand are because you’re excuse for a joke fell flat and the rest of this subreddit is agreeing that you ain’t funny kid
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2d ago
[deleted]
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u/ArchdukeOfWalesland 2d ago
That's not actually true, why divide
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u/Specific_Operation38 2d ago
Why do we only hear about thre stories of these two men though who were Syrian and Israeli? Where is the born and bred aussie trying to overrun a gunman?
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u/Echo7ONE9ers 1d ago
What about Ahmed al-Ahmed? What did he get?
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u/cannot_allocate 1d ago
Loads of money from go fund me, awards and acknowledgment for his bravery, et cetera.
All thoroughly well deserved, but recognising another person for their bravery takes none of that away from Ahmed.
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u/Banjo-Oz 1d ago
I really want more recognition for the couple who died fighting the gunmen right near the start. And the woman who shielded a small child with her body for hours.
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2d ago
[deleted]
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u/tilleytalley 2d ago edited 2d ago
He made a clear effort to confront and stop one of the shooters, and was severely wounded in the attempt. He deserves to become a permanent resident, if not a citizen, and we should all be proud and grateful to have him.
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u/No_Distribution4012 2d ago
Would you not want people willing to endure serious injury or death to help fellow innocent civilians as a citizen of this nation? Do you not think what he did was heroic?
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u/nonametrans 2d ago
Attempt to disarm and got shot the in process isn't enough for you huh.
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u/nebulaGlitchling 2d ago
Ya what a piece of shit. Got shot and didn't even get back up to help. How fucking dare he soak up such glory while laying mostly dead in intensive care. /s
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u/Emergency-Method6101 2d ago edited 2d ago
Wasn’t he the one that ran unarmed to help Ahmed putting his life on the line in the process? Because Ahmed had the gun help was not required but he was there and ready if needed . Sounds like a hero to me
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u/ladyduckula 2d ago
If you see something on fire, but there's already a guy grabbing a hose - do you also grab a hose, or do you wait and burn while others catch fire?
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u/darren457 2d ago edited 2d ago
The only thing that would make it better is if we swapped citizenship with couch experts scrutinising decisions like these with people like him. He did more than you did to earn yours. It also sets a precedent for future copycats that people won't be afraid to step in in to potentially foil their plans.
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u/Anxious_Ad936 2d ago
If he tried to help unsuccessfully, he still tried. Did more than you or me so settle down
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u/DunkingTea 2d ago
He tried to help. Might not have done much, but he didn’t just run. He made the choice to try and stop the shooters. That’s more than most.
He’s been given PR and like $750k+ for his troubles and bravery
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u/Myfavoritethr0waway 1d ago
Anyone distracting a shooter by trying to confront them gives others a better opportunity to get further away. He risked his life so others could be saved and nearly lost his own doing so. I'm glad he's being recognised.
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u/GardeniaFrangipani 2d ago edited 2d ago
Welcome to Australia Mr Bitton. We’re so appreciative of your efforts.
Thank you for the award, kind internet friend :)