December 12, 2024
Albo blasted for ignoring Wong's likening of Israel to Russia Anthony Albanese has called for Australians to stand together to preserve people's right to feel safe, after the Jewish community was rocked by a second anti-Semitic attack in less than a week.
The Prime Minister condemned the "disgraceful incident" in Sydney where a car was torched and houses vandalised with anti-Israel slogans early on Wednesday morning.
In the wake of the attack just days after a Melbourne synagogue was firebombed Mr Albanese stood alongside senior minister Tanya Plibersek and eastern suburbs Teal MP Allegra Spender at the Sydney Jewish Museum to announce $8.5m in federal funding to establish a Centre of Jewish Life and Tolerance.
But the Coalition, which had pledged to fund the same centre in October, has criticised the government for being slow to respond to Australia's antiSemitism crisis.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke visited the site of the Sydney incident after also going to the burnt-out Adass Israel Synagogue, saying the destruction had absolutely no place in Australia.
Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson attacked Mr Albanese for his failure to dress down Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong for her comments this week comparing Israel's leadership with that of China and Russia.
"Let's ignore all of (Mr Albanese's) platitudes about standing with the Jewish community," Mr Paterson said.
"It will be proven to be hollow if he doesn't haul Penny Wong in and reprimand her over this reckless and offensive speech."
Mr Albanese stood by Ms Wong as someone who understood first hand the damage racism could cause, and said Australia's future votes at UN meetings would be consistent with its position.
"Australia has, for a long period of time, had a bipartisan position of support for two states," he said.
"That cannot involve Hamas. That needs to involve security for the state of Israel, as well as justice for Palestinians."
Mr Albanese said he condemned the recent shameful acts of violence aimed at Australia's Jewish community, urging people to stand together against anti-Semitism.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli warned anti-Semitism would not be tolerated in his state.
Mr Crisafulli and Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner on Wednesday met leaders of Brisbane's Jewish community, who detailed a three-fold increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the past few months.
"Many Queenslanders were shocked to learn of the recent developments that have occurred interstate," Mr Crisafulli said.
"There is no place for antiSemitism in Queensland."
Mr Crisafulli said Jewish leaders reported incidents of people being violently assaulted because of the shirt they were wearing, students being targeted at school for the books they were carrying, and people fearing attending their place of worship.
"It's not on and it's not going to happen in Queensland," Mr Crisafulli said.
His comments were endorsed by Opposition Leader Steven Miles and deputy leader Cameron Dick.