Ley vows zero tolerance on antisemitism

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has promised a Coalition government will deport non-citizens who practice hate speech and prosecute Australian citizens who preach violent ideology,

In a wide-ranging address to Melbourne’s Jewish community at St Kilda Shule on Thursday, Ley reflected on the Bondi tragedy and pledged concrete action against antisemitism and radical Islamic extremism.

“If I have the honour of serving as prime minister, those who practice hate speech, who glorify hatred and violence, will face zero tolerance,” she said.

“If they’re not Australian citizens, they will be deported. If they are Australian citizens, they will be arrested and prosecuted.”

Ley said her proposed legislative package would target “anyone who preaches violent, antisocial ideology, who promotes radical Islamism, who glorifies terrorism or incites violence against any community”.

The Opposition Leader described the Bondi attack as “an act of Islamist extremist terrorism directed against the Jewish people, motivated by the vilest antisemitic ideology”.

“We won’t tolerate a government that treats antisemitism as merely a problem to be managed, rather than as evil an evil to be eradicated,” she said.

Ley recalled spending several days with the Jewish community following the Bondi massacre, describing it as “an honour” and “a privilege”.

“I have never seen a community with such strength, such compassion, such courage, such determination,” she said.

Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson, who introduced Ley, condemned Australia’s response to antisemitism since October 7 as “a national disgrace and an international embarrassment”.

Henderson criticised the lack of consequences for protesters at the Sydney Opera House and called out university administrations for failing to act against campus antisemitism.

“Standing up against antisemitism is not some simple favour to the Jewish community. It is the test of our values as a nation,” Henderson said.

Ley welcomed the government’s agreement to establish a Royal Commission into antisemitism, while noting it came “after 25 days” of community advocacy.

She said the Jewish community’s advocacy had been powerful and effective.

“Everywhere I go, people will tell me, ‘My goodness, we listened, we heard, we saw, we’re starting to understand,’ and it is because Jewish Australians have made that message so clear in such a brilliant, brilliant way.”