Election message from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
'The Jewish community is a cherished part of our modern multicultural society, and you make Australia a better place for us all'
Jewish Australians are integral to the story of Australia.
Australia proudly welcomed so many survivors of the horrors of the Holocaust, offering refuge and hope. We embraced the Jewish community then, and we embrace you now.
The past few years have seen a rise in antisemitic attacks that have impacted Jewish communities around Australia.
We know the Jewish community feels deeply distressed by this. The Jewish community is a cherished part of our modern multicultural society, and you make Australia a better place for us all.
Every Australian, no matter their race or religion, should be able to enjoy their life in any Australian community, without prejudice or discrimination.
Antisemitism has no place in Australia and I unequivocally condemn it.
My government has invested $25 million for improved safety and security at Jewish sites across the country, including schools and an additional $32.5 million for security measures for schools and synagogues.
We have delivered landmark reform to strengthen hate speech laws – these are the toughest laws Australia has ever had against hate crimes.
A landmark ban on the Nazi salute and hate symbols came that have come into effect with penalties of one year imprisonment.
We are committed to helping the Adass Israel community rebuild and providing funding towards the restoration of the Adass Israel Synagogue and community centre.
We know that education is a powerful tool against hate and discrimination in our communities. That is why we are funding important cultural institutions, including upgrades the Sydney Jewish Museum, for the Jewish Arts Quarter in Melbourne, to build the National Holocaust Education Centre in Canberra and for the Holocaust Institute of WA’s Education Centre.
We are in uncertain times and understand the pressures families across Australia are facing.
We have been a responsible government that has delivered budget surpluses. We’ve provided cost of living support when it’s needed whilst getting inflation down. Unemployment is low at 4.1 per cent and we’ve created one million jobs.
But we know that there’s more to do and we want build on the foundations, to build a stronger future.
This is a time for building, for strengthening Medicare, for helping to make things here in Australia, for helping to build up our schools from early childhood learning through to our school’s program, which will give proper and fair funding for every student, through to free TAFE.
This is a time to build Australia’s future, not to look backwards and implement cuts to services Australians rely on.
Anthony Albanese is the Prime Minister of Australia.
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