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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his administration have recently faced mounting scrutiny from the Jewish community and various political leaders over their response to antisemitism. This scrutiny intensified following a tragic mass shooting on Sunday, where a father and son duo allegedly killed 15 people and wounded 41 others.
Addressing the media today, Albanese took responsibility for the government’s approach. “I acknowledge that more could have been done, and I accept my share of the responsibility as the Prime Minister of Australia,” he stated.
He continued by emphasizing his commitment to national unity. “I also recognize my duty to lead and bring the nation together,” Albanese said. “What people need now is not more division, but solidarity.”
“But what I also do is accept my responsibility to lead the nation and unite the nation.
“Because what people are looking for at this time isn’t more division.”
“Sadly, since the terrible events of October 2023, we have witnessed an increase in antisemitism, which is, of course, an ancient hatred,” he said.
“We have seen a series of appalling attacks targeting Australia’s Jewish community that culminated on Sunday in one of the worst acts of mass murder that this country has ever seen.”
The changes in the five-point plan include:
- Harsher hate speech laws for preachers and leaders who promote violence
- Higher penalties for hate speech that promotes violence
- Making hate an aggravated factor in sentencing for other crimes, like online threats or harassment
- Developing a regime for listing organisations whose leaders engage in hate speech, promote violence or racial hatred
- Developing a narrow federal offence for serious vilification based on race, and or advocating racial supremacy
The government will also create an Antisemitism Education Taskforce and provide new safety advice to curb antisemitism online, and grant Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke new powers to cancel or reject visas for those who spread hate and division.
Albanese has been criticised by former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott, federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and former Liberal treasurer Josh Frydenberg for how he has responded to a rise in antisemitism, with the Jewish community noting that they have warned about the dangers of antisemitism since the October 7 attack in 2023.
Freydenberg, who delivered the most scathing review of the government while speaking at the memorial site at Bondi, called on Albanese to accept “personal responsibility for the death of 15 innocent people”.
“We, as a Jewish community, have been abandoned and left alone by our government,” he said.
“Our governments have failed every Australian when it comes to fighting hate and antisemitism.”
