PM meets state leaders over Jew hate
'The rise of antisemitism is abhorrent and there is no place for the kind of hate speech and attacks we have seen recently in our country'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today met with Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, NSW Acting Premier Penny Sharpe and Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw to address the recent rise in antisemitic incidents in Australia.
The meeting followed a spate of incidents over the last week, including vandalism at two Sydney synagogues with the alleged perpetrators trying to set fire to one of them, the same street in the Sydney suburb of Queens Park being defiled with antisemitic graffiti twice in a week, and “Gas the Jews” being daubed on a wall near a train station in inner-city suburban Sydney.
The recent incidents follow the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne in December. The federal government set up AFP Special Operation Avalite to crack down on antisemitism, threats, violence and hatred towards the Australian Jewish Community following that incident. Since it was established the AFP has received 124 reports, with 102 under investigation.
The most recent spates of vandalism have intensified pressure on the federal government to do more to tackle antisemitism. Jewish Liberal MP Julian Leeser this week called for the prime minister to convene national cabinet to discuss the issue, echoing a call made by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry last month.
In a joint media release about today’s meeting, Albanese, Allan and Sharpe said all three governments agreed “to continue working relentlessly together to stop these incidents and to ensure that those responsible are found and face the full force of the law”.
“This has involved information sharing between law enforcement agencies, updating legislation and jointly supporting affected communities,” the media release said.
“The Prime Minister emphasised to both the Premier of Victoria and Acting Premier of New South Wales that the Commonwealth stands ready to assist with whatever they require.”
Albanese also said he will continue to work closely with the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, “Who in a conversation today supported this intergovernmental discussion.”
The media release said all three governments committed to regular conversations between leaders and agreed on the value of federal and state Police Commissioners engaging directly with the community.
“The Albanese Government unequivocally condemns antisemitism,” the media release said.
“The rise of antisemitism is abhorrent and there is no place for the kind of hate speech and attacks we have seen recently in our country.
“It’s why we’re taking action to stamp out the scourge of antisemitism.”
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