Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has launched a scathing critique of the Albanese government, accusing it of failing Jewish Australians in the period leading up to the devastating Bondi terror attack that killed 15 people. Ley argues that a failure to tackle rising antisemitism created a dangerous environment.
Community's 'Pain, Heartbreak and Anger'
Speaking from Bondi Beach, Ley detailed the profound distress within the Jewish community following Sunday's attack. She spent hours at a local synagogue on Monday night, listening to residents. Ley stated the nation has been irrevocably changed by the events.
"What I heard yesterday and what I’ve been hearing over the last two years is that for Jewish Australians, their lives have been made harder and harder because of antisemitism," Ley said. She asserted the government has directly "failed Jewish Australians" by not acting decisively against this growing threat.
Unheeded Warnings and Unimplemented Report
Ley criticised the administration for "not addressing the rising tide of antisemitism" and "allowing hate speech on our streets". She cited chants like "globalise the Intifada" as creating a "permission structure" for violence in the minds of some individuals.
A central point of her criticism is the government's handling of a report from the prime minister’s special envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal. "There is a report effectively on the prime minister’s desk from his special envoy ... and it has recommendations that have not been adopted," Ley revealed. "Been sitting there for months."
Disturbing Accounts of Daily Fear
The Opposition Leader shared alarming examples of the fear permeating the Jewish community. These include:
- Young women changing out of their school uniforms before public transport to avoid identification with Jewish schools.
- Small children requiring armed guards for protection at kindergarten.
Ley also pointed to a pattern of incidents since October 7, 2023, including fire bombings, targeted childcare centres, vandalised cars, and daily graffiti. "Local councillors told me last night that every day after October 7, they sent out their people to wash off the graffiti, the hideous graffiti everywhere, much of which never made the news," she stated.
Calls for Immediate and Coordinated Action
Ley demanded Prime Minister Anthony Albanese finally act on this "scourge of antisemitism" with a strategy that is "clear, coherent, determined across government and given the priority that sadly it hasn’t had".
Her specific demands include convening a National Cabinet dedicated to antisemitism to coordinate state and federal responses, and the immediate enactment of all recommendations from the special envoy's report. She insists the community needs tangible action, not just words, to feel safe.
