December 9, 2024
The firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue was finally labelled an act of terrorism by Anthony Albanese yesterday, two days after the attack, as pressure mounts on the prime minister to show his face at the torched place of worship.
It came as the Coalition hit back at claims from Labor that it was politicising the attack on the synagogue, as well as launching new criticism at Multicultural Affairs Minister Tony Burke for not being visible enough in the wake of the incident.
"The Prime Minister should explain what was more important to him than showing his support for the Jewish community at this terrible time," Opposition Home Affairs spokesman James Paterson said.
"He could have at least sent one of his senior national security ministers on Friday, Saturday or Sunday as an act of solidarity following a terrorist attack."
Mr Paterson also lashed Mr Burke, saying: "It's hard to imagine (he) would have been this mute if it was a mosque instead of a synagogue which was targeted in a terror attack like this".
"He is Home Affairs Minister for all Australians, not just some Australians, and the least he could do is front up and explain what the government is doing to support the Jewish community and make sure this never happens again," Mr Paterson said.
The comments came amid growing pressure on Mr Albanese to visit the scene of the attack, after he finally labelled it terrorism following two days of pressure, including from Jewish former Liberal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.
"My personal opinion is yes (it is terrorism), but there is a technical process," the Prime Minister said from Perth, where he was on the third-day of a Western Australian blitz.
Mr Albanese flew back to the east coast yesterday and is due to spend Monday in Canberra. He said Federal Police would meet with their Victorian counterparts today to decide whether to officially designate the firebombing as an act of terrorism which would trigger more federal resources being poured into the investigation.
"But if you want my personal view, quite clearly, terrorism is something that is aimed at creating fear in the community and the atrocities that occurred at the synagogue in Melbourne clearly were designed to create fear in the community," Mr Albanese said.
"And therefore, from my personal perspective, (the act) certainly fulfil(s) that definition of terrorism."
The Prime Minister also personally called Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Peter Wertheim yesterday, ahead of announcing an extra $32.5 million fund for security for the Jewish community and institutions.
Following Mr Albanese's comments, Mr Burke agreed the act was terrorism, and hit back at suggestions over his visibility since the incident, saying he had issued statements to the media "that day and each day since".
"As I've said repeatedly, I condemn this disgusting attack in the strongest possible terms ... I hope the police quickly find whoever is responsible and throw the book at them. This attack was horrific and evil," he said.
Mr Burke also said he was receiving regular briefings from security agencies and was working closely with antiSemitism envoy Jillian Segal.
"I share the personal view of the Prime Minister that this fits the definition of terrorism," he said.
New photos from the Adass Israel Synagogue show it was completely gutted in the Friday morning attack, with those behind the torching yet to be identified.
A rusty bullet was also seized on Saturday directly outside the synagogue.
In the hours after the attack, the Prime Minister rang the Israeli President and the Australian Federal Police Commissioner, while he visited and spoke at a synagogue in Perth on Saturday.
His comments yesterday come after one of the government's other frontbenchers, Senator Murray Watt, was accused of belittling the firebombing by accusing Mr Frydenberg of making politically motivated comments.
Senator Watt told Sky News although he "respect(ed) the fact Mr Frydenberg is of the Jewish faith ... I don't think we can separate the fact that he has a very long career as a Liberal Party politician".
Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies president Jason Steinberg labelled the comments "unfortunate".
"I think to label (Mr Frydenberg's comments) as just making a statement for political purposes, I think it actually belittles the seriousness of the terror attack that we saw against the Jewish community in Melbourne," he said.
Former Labor Defence Minister Mike Kelly said it was "completely wrong" to suggest Mr Frydenberg, whose greatPAGE 18: EDITORIAL grandparents were murdered in the Holocaust, had been speaking out as part of a political agenda.
NSW Premier Chris Minns also confirmed his government would look at fast tracking new laws to restrict protests outside places of worship, including synagogues.