May 3 poll as Dutton pledges antisemitism taskforce
An antisemitism taskforce was one of 15 steps recommended by Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin at the Sky News Antisemitism Forum last month
Australians will go to the polls on May 3, 2025.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement this morning after visiting the Governor-General at Yarralumla to call the election.
“Because of the strength and resilience that our people have shown, Australia is turning the corner,” Albanese told a press conference just after 8am.
“Now, on the third of May, you choose the way forward. Your vote has never been more important.”
It comes after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, during his budget in reply speech in Canberra on Thursday night, made a major announcement on combating antisemitism.
“Under Labor, you will get the same weakness of leadership that has compounded crime and emboldened antisemitism on our streets,” he said.
“But under the Coalition, we will provide the moral and political leadership needed to restore law, order, and justice. We will establish a dedicated antisemitism taskforce to turn the tide of this scourge of hatred.”
An antisemitism taskforce was one of 15 steps recommended by Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin at the conclusion of the Sky News Antisemitism Forum last month.
The government has been criticised repeatedly for being slow to react after a baying antisemitic mob sullied the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House on October 9, 2023, which many say gave a green light to the unprecedented spike in hate against Jews in Australia since.
Meanwhile, Jewish groups slammed the government earlier this week after its budget papers revealed that it will continue to fund the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA to the tune of $20 million per year.
Israel has produced evidence that UNRWA staff members participated in the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 massacre in southern Israel, while the terrorist group has used UNRWA infrastructure to shield its command centres, weapons and fighters.
Ryvchin told The Australian this week that “not one dollar” from Australian taxpayers should go to UNRWA.
“The organisation is compromised, its employees participated in the atrocities of October 7 and its very existence is intended to keep generation upon generation of Palestinians in the dangerous lie that they are refugees from Israel and will one day conquer it,” he told that masthead.
“Australian aid must always align with our peaceful and democratic values, and UNRWA is an instrument of conflict and dictatorship. If our government wishes to direct our money towards the reconstruction of Gaza, it should do so through peaceful, reputable organisations.”
Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said, “UNRWA’s culture is corrupt and has been proven to be supportive of terrorism and we have been calling for a suspension of their funding since it became clear some of their employees were directly involved in the atrocities of October 7.”
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