Australian Election 2025: Can Australian Jews Count on Labor?

In a historic election that saw Anthony Albanese secure a second term as Australia’s Prime Minister with a landslide victory, the Jewish community finds itself at a crossroads. While democracy has spoken clearly, many Australian Jews are viewing the results with a mixture of concern and cautious hope.

A Strained Relationship

The relationship between Australia’s Jewish community and the Albanese government has been under significant strain since the events of October 7, 2023. As Jeremy Leibler, president of the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA), noted following the election, “For the first time in history, many Jews in this country felt they had to justify their place in Australian society.”

This tension stems from what many perceive as the Labor government’s inadequate response to the surge in antisemitism that has swept across Australia since the Hamas attacks and subsequent Israel-Gaza conflict. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) reported over 2,000 antisemitic incidents between October 2023 and September 2024, more than quadruple the number from the previous year. This alarming increase has left many in the community feeling vulnerable and questioning the government’s commitment to their safety.

Foreign policy decisions have further complicated the relationship. Labor’s stance on the war with Hamas has been viewed by some as insufficiently supportive of Israel, with calls from Jewish organizations like the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) for “a return to the longstanding bipartisan position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict [including] an acceptance that premature recognition of a non-existent Palestinian state will be detrimental to peacemaking.”

The Antisemitism Crisis

Australia is currently grappling with what many describe as a real antisemitism crisis. The country has witnessed a disturbing series of high-profile incidents that have shocked the Jewish community and the nation at large.

In December, the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne was firebombed. In January, the former home of ECAJ Co-CEO Alex Ryvchin was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti, and two cars were set on fire in what appeared to be a targeted attack. Moreover, a childcare facility in Sydney was ignited and defaced with antisemitic slogans. But perhaps most alarmingly, police discovered an organized crime network that faked a bomb attack on a Sydney synagogue, potentially with part of motivation to “to install fear in the Jewish community.“ Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw has raised concerns that “foreign actors or individuals” may be financing criminals to perpetrate antisemitic acts within Australia, with investigations looking into potential cryptocurrency transactions that complicate identification efforts.

The Jewish community’s worries extend beyond specific incidents to broader concerns about their place in Australian society. Many Jews report feeling unsafe in public spaces, with Prime Minister Albanese himself acknowledging that members of the Jewish community have expressed many concerns. Prime Minister Albanese: “I have spoken with members of the Jewish community in Sydney, in Melbourne, right around Australia, who had not felt safe. […] Members of the Jewish community whose children are worried about wearing their school uniform in our capital cities. That’s not acceptable. Not acceptable, ever“.

Also, political dynamics have further complicated matters. Labor’s preference deals with the Australian Greens party-described by critics as “one of the most strident anti-Israel voices in mainstream politics” have left many Australian Jews feeling that their concerns are expendable in the pursuit of political advantage.

PM Albanese at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne: “The fire here at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne was beyond despicable. It was terrorism. It was a fire fuelled by antisemitism and stoked by hatred, a crime of cowardice as well as prejudice. And I know it has added to the pain and sorrow of the Jewish Australian community.” (Photo: official press photo released by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, PM&C on December 10, 2024)

Prime Minister Albanese’s Response

To his credit, Prime Minister Albanese has not remained passive in response to the issue of antisemitism. In January, he convened an emergency cabinet meeting to address rising incidents of antisemitism. In a subsequent media statement, he declared that his government will “take action to stamp out the scourge of antisemitism,” including:

• Setting up AFP Special Operation Avalite to crack down on antisemitism, threats, violence and hatred towards the Australian Jewish Community.
• Introducing a landmark ban on the Nazi salute and hate symbols which came into effect in January 2024.
• Appointing Jillian Segal AO as Australia’s first Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism.
• Criminalising doxxing – the malicious release of personal information.
• Legislating to appoint Australia’s first National Student Ombudsman.
• Committing $25 million for improved safety and security at Jewish sites across the country, including schools, in the weeks following the 7 October terrorist.
• Funding an additional $32.5 million for security measures for schools and synagogues.
• $250,000 towards the replacement and restoration of Torah Scrolls housed in the Adass Israel Synagogue.
• Introducing legislation to Parliament to criminalise hate speech, including the urging or threatening of force or violence against individuals or groups because of who they are or what they believe.

In the lead-up to the election, Prime Minister Albanese made a direct appeal to the Jewish community through The Australian Jewish News, acknowledging both their historical significance and current challenges. “Jewish Australians are integral to the story of Australia,” he wrote, highlighting the country’s history of welcoming Holocaust survivors and the community’s contributions to the nation. Albanese directly addressed the rise in antisemitism, stating unequivocally: “Antisemitism has no place in Australia and I unequivocally condemn it.” He emphasized that “the Jewish community is a cherished part of our modern multicultural society, and you make Australia a better place for us all.”

But while this message represented an attempt to bridge the growing divide between his government and the Jewish community, many remain skeptical about whether these commitments will translate into meaningful action in his second term.

Looking Ahead…

The path forward for Australia’s Jewish community under a second Albanese government remains uncertain. Jewish organizations are adopting different approaches to the new political reality.

The ZFA has set a rather conciliatory tone, stating that while the relationship has been strained, “renewing that trust is in the national interest, and we believe it is both necessary and possible.” They welcomed pre-election commitments made by the government to increase security funding for the Jewish community and combat antisemitism.

ECAJ co-chief executive Peter Wertheim has indicated a pragmatic approach, saying, “We will continue to urge the government to stand strong against antisemitism in both word and deed. Where we have different views on the best way towards a sustainable two-state outcome to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, we will continue to put our case to the government in a constructive and reasoned manner.”

Dr. Colin Rubenstein, Executive Director of AIJAC, sees the electoral win as an opportunity for the Labor Government to “push back more strongly against unprecedented levels of antisemitism, hate speech and incitement to violence.”

… and Rebuilding Bridges?

As Dean Sherr, former adviser to state and federal Labor MPs, including media adviser to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, noted before the election, “the prospect of a second-term Labor government will clearly upset sections of our community. It will require fences to be mended and bridges to be rebuilt. It will likely require both Labor and the Jewish community to be prepared to swallow some pride and let go of some bitterness.”

This sentiment rings even truer now that the election results are in. The Jewish community cannot afford to have no productive relationship with its federal government, regardless of which party forms that government. Furthermore, the re-election of Jewish Labor MPs like Josh Burns, Mark Dreyfus, and Mike Freelander provides some hope for representation within the government. Especially Josh Burns, who experienced antisemitic vandalism of his electoral billboard just days before the election, has been a vocal advocate for the community.

Instagram post of Josh Burns MP on April 30, 2025 after the antisemitic vandalism (source: @joshburnsmp)

Australia’s Jewish community finds itself at a challenging juncture. The surge in antisemitism has created genuine fear, while the political landscape appears less favorable than many would have hoped. Yet there are also signs of potential progress, with government initiatives to combat hate crimes and opportunities to rebuild trust.

The coming time will be crucial in determining whether the Albanese government can effectively address the community’s concerns and whether Jewish organizations can successfully advocate for their needs within the new (or rather continued) political reality. What’s clear is that both sides must work together to ensure that Australia remains a safe and welcoming home for its Jewish citizens.