Labor’s Cash Pledges Won’t Solve Australia’s Antisemitism Crisis

Antisemitism has surged to levels never-before seen in Australia in the past 14 months. The Albanese Government has turned to Labor’s solution for every problem but this time, throwing money at the issue won’t make it go away.

Days after it was torched in a terrorist arson attack, the Prime Minister arrived at the ashes of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, promising $32.5 million for communal security.

Next it was Sydney’s turn. After an antisemitic arson attack in the Eastern Suburbs, the flustered Prime Minister appeared at the Jewish Museum with a promise of $8.5 million.

The funding is sadly sorely needed. The Jewish community spends an eye-watering amount on security. Our communal buildings have become fortresses. No other children in Australia need armed guards to protect them while they play in preschool. The Jewish Museum too is working harder than ever to educate the public about the dangers of antisemitism and where it leads.

This time, Labor’s splurge isn’t working.

The Jewish community is furious at Labor. We have spent 14 months asking Labor to take antisemitism seriously.

We don’t need the Prime Minister to show up at the scene of every antisemitic attack with his chequebook. We need his government to do what it can to stop the attacks from occurring.

We asked for a judicial inquiry into rampant antisemitism into university antisemitism. Labor refused.

We asked the Prime Minister to rule out preference deals with the Greens, a party that now peddles in anti-Jewish conspiracies. He refused.

Whether its rushed visas for Gazans or confronting radical preachers who spread anti-Jewish hate, whatever the issue, Labor is deaf to the concerns of the Jewish community.

We asked the Albanese Government to tone down its hateful rhetoric toward the Jewish State. Labor ministers responded by escalating their anti-Israel attacks with the Foreign Minister, this week, comparing the Jewish State unfavourably to autocracies, Russia and China.

As the Prime Minster was heading to the Jewish Museum, audio leaked of him telling a Labor crowd, “some people have got a bit upset, they’ll be more upset by Thursday.” It became clear Albanese was referring to the hurt his government caused to the Jewish community by adopting yet another anti-Israel position at the United Nations.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies President, David Ossip, refused to appear alongside the Prime Minister at the Jewish Museum, telling the Daily Telegraph, “I have only the greatest of respect for the office of Prime Minister and appreciate the donation to the Museum but I couldn’t bring myself to go and hear the Prime Minister talk about antisemitism whilst his Government plots further policy moves against Israel.” Ossip received wide praise in the Jewish community for a move that likely has no precedent in our community’s history.

Senior Rabbi, Laibl Wolf penned an editorial, titled, ‘Don’t take the bribe’, imploring communal organisations to refuse Labor’s funds until the Government takes concrete steps to confront the antisemitism crisis.

Rather than throwing money at the problem, Labor must urgently reverse course. The Prime Minister needs to rein in radical ministers, chief among them Foreign Minister Penny Wong, whose anti-Israel obsession has trashed the two nations’ relationship. Labor must commit to a serious inquiry into university antisemitism, adequate screening of immigrants from Gaza, to prevent importing hate and importantly, they must rule out preference deals with the extremist Greens.

Australia is burning. Jews are being targeted in arson attacks in multiple cities. This has become a major national political issue. Australia’s leaders must act decisively to address these growing threats. Ironically, in Labor’s desperation to win votes from anti-Israel communities, they are running the risk of costing themselves the next election.