Albanese receives plan to help combat antisemitism

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government will “carefully consider” the ‘Special Envoy’s Plan to Combat Antisemitism’, stating some recommendations will be “implemented quickly”, while others will require “more work”.

Prime Minister Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Bourke joined Australia’s Antisemitism Envoy Jillian Segal to launch her report on Thursday, which she described as an “action plan”.

“It addresses antisemitism in many places in our laws, classrooms, universities, media, workplaces, online spaces and public institutions,” said Segal.

“It calls on government and society and leaders to support the initiatives. In addition to measures to counter antisemitism, there is also the positive side that it looks at, and that is increasing the vibrancy of Jewish life.”

Albanese said the report found antisemitism had risen to “deeply troubling levels”, but it also reaffirmed that the issue “didn’t begin on October 7″.

“This is something that government needs to work with civil society on at all levels and each and every day and every week and every month and every year to make sure that antisemitism is pushed to the margins,” he said.

Albanese said the “kind of hatred and violence that we have seen on our streets recently is despicable and it won’t be tolerated”, vowing those responsible will face “the full force of the law”.

The plan was launched less than a week after the arson attack on the East Melbourne Synagogue, but not in response to it, with Segal clarifying the timing was “coincidental” as it has been in the works for months.

Albanese condemned the actions of protestors in Melbourne who attacked an Israeli restaurant, while adding a line is crossed when the Jewish community is targeted.

“The idea that somehow the cause of justice for Palestinians is advanced by behaviour like that is not only delusional, it is destructive and it is not consistent with how you are able to put forward your views respectfully in a democracy,” he said.

“Regardless of your views on the Middle East, and there are a range of views across Australian society, put forward those views respectfully, peacefully, orderly.

“Do not target individuals in the way that it has occurred, and the circumstances where … Jewish students who have been attacked, vilified, abused, because of their identification by someone, by a perpetrator, for being Jewish.”

On the issue of respectfully putting forward views, Albanese said he has been consistent in his support for a two-state solution.

“I will continue to support the right of Israel to exist within secure boundaries, and I will continue to support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for their own state,” he said.

“But I will continue to oppose terrorist organisations like Hamas.”

Education is a key focal point of Segal’s plan, which calls for Holocaust and antisemitism education to be integrated into both national and state curriculums. It recommends teacher training and student learning to ensure that, across society, people are aware of the “history, harms and modern forms of antisemitism”.

Segal will also “work with government to enable government funding to be withheld, where possible, from universities, programs or individuals within universities that facilitate, enable or fail to act against antisemitism”.

“Working with government and grant authorities, the envoy will, where possible, establish that all public grants provided to university centres, academics or researchers can be subject to termination where the recipient engages in antisemitic or otherwise discriminatory or hateful speech or actions,” the report said.

The report also recommended that public funding agreements for cultural institutions and festivals include clauses for the “efficient termination of funding where the institution or festival promotes, facilitates or does not deal effectively with hate or antisemitism”.

On withdrawing public funding for institutions that do not adequately address antisemitism, Burke said the measure was already available to the government however the power would be made clearer.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion, has welcomed the special envoy’s plan to combat antisemitism.

“This is a very well-considered plan which aligns completely with the ECAJ’s thinking and the Jewish community’s expectations,” he said.

“It is evident that much research and thought has gone into this document over many months. Its release could not be more timely, given the recent appalling events in Melbourne. The actions which the plan call for are now urgently needed.

“We call upon all sectors of society, including government, law enforcement, the media, the university sector, education authorities and online platform providers, to co-operate with the special envoy and the Jewish community to give this action plan full force and effect.

“We thank the prime minister and minister for home affairs for standing with the Jewish community at this time and look forward to working with the government to help make antisemitism a thing of the past.”

The opposition has welcomed the antisemitism envoy’s plan but urged the government to provide “clarity” on which recommendations it intends to adopt.

“We note that when the Prime Minister was asked directly if he would commit to implementing the plan in full he refused to do so,” a statement from the Coalition said.

“Despite being willing to launch the plan today, it is not clear which measures the Albanese government supports, and which it does not. Australians deserve some clarity on this.”

Sussan Ley said the government “must show leadership” as it is not “just a problem of security or law enforcement”.

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler supported the plan to cut funding to education institutions that fail to act against antisemitism.

“Some of our major universities have seen a complete dearth of leadership, notwithstanding extensive consultation with Jewish students, staff, and numerous parliamentary inquiries,” he said.

“The real measure of this report will be its implementation. It is essential that these recommendations are enacted swiftly, and consistently by governments and institutions.”

Read the Special Envoy’s Plan to Combat Antisemitism in full here.