Dutton pledges tougher action against antisemitism
Peter Dutton promised today that, if elected, he'd convene a national cabinet on antisemitism.
At Sydney’s Central Synagogue this morning (January 20), federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Senator James Patterson announced that an elected Coalition government would legislate for a mandatory minimum term of six years imprisonment for all acts of terrorism under Commonwealth law, and do something that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week ruled out – to convene a national cabinet to specifically address antisemitism and extremism.
Other pledges they announced included introducing mandatory minimum sentences of 12 months in prison – and increasing the maximum prison term to five years – for the public display of prohibited Nazi symbols, giving the Nazi salute, and displaying prohibited terrorist organisation symbols and flags.
A Coalition government would also amend draft laws currently before parliament to make it a hate crime to urge or threaten violence towards a place of worship, punishable by imprisonment for five years, and up to seven years in the case of an aggravated offence.
Dutton promised that, “if elected as prime minister, we [the coalition] will provide the resources, the legislation, and the will, to stamp out antisemitism in our country, and to send a very clear message that that is not going to be tolerated in any form whatsover – and that will happen from day one”.
Describing antisemitism as a national scourge that requires a national response and strong leadership, Dutton said, “It’s only the Prime Minister’s pride at the moment that is standing between him, and a decision that he can make, to convene a national cabinet”.
“We’re seen the firebombing of cars, we’re seeing people doxxed, we’re seeing children going to school protected by armed guards, so if now is not the time for a national cabinet [on antisemitism], when is it?
“For every day that the Prime Minister abrogates his responsibility, and continues this weakness, our country continues to suffer.”
Patterson recalled how Dutton first called upon Albanese to convene a national cabinet on antisemitism in November 2023.
“It’s clear that we have a government in Canberra that is not willing to act, that is not willing to be decisive enough, and that is not willing to do enough to confront this problem,” Patterson said.
“It’s very clear that we need strong action to deter the perpetrators, because until they fear the consequences of their behaviour, this crisis is going to continue to get worse.”
Federal Liberal MP Julian Leeser when antisemitic acts have been allowed to become an almost daily occurrence in Australia, “it is incumbent on those people in leadership to do everything that they can to address these issues”.
“And today is just the latest in a series of announcements that he [Dutton] has made, to return this country to the Australia that we know and love.”
Liberal candidate for Wentworth, Ro Knox, said, “What [message] we’d like to very clearly deliver to the Australian people today is that . . . we will stand with this community, and with all communities across Australia, to ensure that we have action to stop these antisemitic and un-Australian acts”.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim thanked Dutton and Patterson for their announcement, stressing that the latest spate of antisemitic attacks “are not just a matter for the Jewish community, they are attacks on all Australians, on our way of life, and on our values”.
“We need a co-ordinated response to turn back that trend – national, state, and territory governments to be co-ordinated in the legislative responses, in terms of law enforcement, education, online and media protection,” Wertheim said.
“We look forward to these ideas being developed, and hopefully becoming bipartisan.”
And in a statement, the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) also welcomed the Coalition’s announcement of stronger measures to combat rising antisemitism, with ZFA president Jeremy Leibler describing them as “important steps in ensuring that Jewish Australians can live safely and without fear”.
ZFA CEO Alon Cassuto said, “It’s time for governments at every level to take responsibility, and make combating antisemitism a national priority”.
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