What happened in Melbourne last night is horrifying. A synagogue set alight while families
gathered for Shabbat dinner and an Israeli restaurant stormed and terrorised.
This is not protest. This is hate and it has no place in Australia.
The arson attack on the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation and the violent mob assault on
Miznon restaurant are not isolated incidents – they are the culmination of an escalation in
antisemitic intimidation on our streets.
These are not protests. They are targeted, hate-fuelled acts of violence that threaten the safety
of Australians in their places of worship and business.
The fact that 20 people were forced to evacuate a synagogue on a Friday night Shabbat dinner
is a disgrace, and every political leader in this country must condemn it without equivocation.
It is now impossible to ignore the growing crisis of antisemitism in Australia. Our Jewish
community lives under an increasing threat and we have not seen sufficient action or urgency
from the Albanese Government.
The Coalition wrote to the Prime Minister on 15 June calling for strengthened security
protections for Jewish communities. We have not received any response and we have not seen
the strong action we need.Words are no longer enough. There must be consequences that are real, visible, and
immediate for those who incite and commit these crimes.
The Opposition calls on the Prime Minister to take stronger action. Anthony Albanese must
ensure that every Australian – regardless of faith – can live in safety and without fear. Law
abiding people whoever they are should be entitled to the full protection of the law.
The Coalition stands ready to provide bipartisan support for any actions the government takes
to protect the Australian Jewish community. But we will not step back from criticising this
clear failure from a Prime Minister who has gone missing when these Australians need him.
