In the wake of the horrific antisemitic attack in Bondi, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today made a series of announcements in regard to combatting antisemitism and stated that the Government would enact the Antisemitism envoy’s divisive and controversial plan.
This is a week of profound grief for Jewish people and the entire nation. We mourn the lives of the victims and stand with their families, loved ones and everyone traumatised by the Bondi attack. No policy response from the government should lose sight of the human cost of this violence.
We welcome the Prime Minister’s acknowledgement that more could have been done and we support his commitment to act.
A serious focus on online hate, early intervention and gun reform is appropriate. While facts are still emerging regarding this horrific event, we urge the Government to focus on the exact policy failures which may have allowed this to happen.
“We share the government’s goal of confronting antisemitism and racism wherever they appear. This is a responsibility that belongs to all of us – government, institutions and communities”, said Sarah Schwartz, executive officer of the Jewish Council of Australia.
“Our grief should not be used as a political weapon, nor as an excuse to pursue agendas that divide communities. We urge the Prime Minister to reject voices which seek to use this response to divide us and pursue anti-immigration or pro-Israel agendas, and instead focus on what is needed to keep us, and all racialised communities, safe from violent acts of racism”, said Schwartz.
We are concerned that elements of today’s announcement resemble long-standing proposals from the pro-Israel lobby which have nothing to do with addressing violent extremism.
“If education initiatives like university scorecards become a form of ideological policing –
particularly where they are used to limit legitimate criticism of Israel — they will only make Jews less safe, and do the opposite of combatting antisemitism,” Jewish Council of Australia executive officer, Dr Max Kaiser said.
“Policy which points towards universities, the protest movement and migration as the problem will only lead to more demonisation. Our Muslim and Palestinian allies are now facing extreme abuse and threats. The Government must act immediately to head off this dangerous path” said Dr. Kaiser.
“Responses to this terrorist attack should be squarely focused on keeping Jewish people and all communities safe, not fulfilling a pro-Israel wishlist.”
“Jewish people, and people from every single racialised group, deserve safety, and we deserve solutions that truly deliver it. Our safety and the safety of every other marginalised group go hand in hand. We need to be strengthening connections between communities and cultivating grassroots efforts to tackle racism at its core.”
The Jewish Council urges the Prime Minister to ensure that the Government’s response remains grounded in evidence, focused on prevention, the widest possible consultation and committed to unity.