Wong grilled on hate

The Coalition “was not unjustified” in grilling Penny Wong about Labor’s record on combating antisemitism, a Jewish leader stated, after the Foreign Minister’s claim in Parliament that the opposition has “weaponised” anti-Jewish hatred.

In Senate Estimates on Monday, Wong accused Senator James McGrath of politicising antisemitism, triggering a fiery debate that closed down the hearing for a time.

Wong’s attack was in response to questioning by Coalition senators over claims the Albanese government has enabled antisemitism since the October 7 Hamas pogrom.

The FM countered, “I’m very happy and so is the Prime Minister to work with you against prejudice including antisemitism … what is not helpful is the way in which you try to weaponise this.”

McGrath responded, “I’m not trying to weaponise it. I speak to Jewish Australians every day who feel unsafe.” Wong then claimed her government was working for social cohesion, adding to McGrath, “I hope you do too.”

The exchange became heated, as McGrath questioned Wong about when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was briefed about a caravan filled with explosives reportedly destined for a synagogue. Wong attacked the Coalition about its stance on the government’s anti-doxxing laws. The session was soon suspended.

Wong’s comments reflected those of Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, who accused the Coalition of politicising antisemitism during a clash in Parliament on February 10 and at a Sky News antisemitism summit on February 20.

Welcoming that the government “has shown more urgency and determination in confronting our national antisemitism crisis in recent weeks and months”, Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein told The AJN, “Unfortunately, this improvement follows a record which has been at times overly defensive and flat-footed … even perhaps exacerbating it through a dramatic shift away from Australia’s traditional support for Israel’s security. The opposition have not been unjustified in seeking to persuade the government to confront the 16-month antisemitism crisis in a more effective and timely manner.”

Zionist Federation of Australia CEO Alon Cassuto said, “As antisemitism in Australia reaches alarming levels, our nation needs both the government and opposition to call [it] out.”