Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ignited a political firestorm after dismissing calls for a royal commission into antisemitism in the wake of the Bondi Junction stabbing attack, labelling the push as "bulls***".
Political backlash erupts over PM's choice of words
The controversy stems from a heated exchange in Parliament on Tuesday, 28 May 2024. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton directly challenged the Prime Minister, demanding he establish a royal commission specifically to investigate rising antisemitism across Australia.
Mr Albanese's blunt retort was captured by microphones in the chamber. He was heard stating, "What bulls***. What an absolute nonsense." The remark, though not officially part of the parliamentary record, has drawn immediate and severe condemnation from the Coalition and Jewish community leaders.
A clash over the response to the Bondi tragedy
The call for the inquiry is tightly linked to the horrific stabbing attack at Westfield Bondi Junction on 13 April, where six people were murdered. The attacker, Joel Cauchi, was known to have had mental health issues, but investigators also found a history of antisemitic and misogynistic posts on his social media.
Mr Dutton argued that this context, coupled with a broader surge in antisemitic incidents since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict, necessitated a dedicated, high-level investigation. He accused the Prime Minister of failing to provide moral leadership on the issue.
In his formal response, Mr Albanese defended the government's existing actions. He pointed to appointing a national antisemitism envoy, providing extra security funding for Jewish schools and places of worship, and launching a parliamentary inquiry into hate speech. He argued these measures constituted a comprehensive response, rendering a separate royal commission unnecessary.
Community reaction and political fallout
The reaction from the opposition was swift and fierce. Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor described the Prime Minister's language as "disgraceful" and accused him of trivialising a deeply serious issue affecting a traumatised community. Other Coalition figures echoed this sentiment, framing the comment as evidence of a government out of touch with community concerns.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin expressed profound disappointment. He stated that the community felt "abandoned" and that the government's current measures were insufficient to address the scale of the threat. He emphasised that a royal commission would have the authority and scope to properly investigate the roots of antisemitism and recommend powerful, systemic solutions.
This incident represents a significant escalation in the political debate over social cohesion and community safety in Australia. It places the government's strategy for combating hate speech and violence under intense scrutiny, with critics arguing that the Prime Minister's dismissive language has further alienated a community seeking reassurance and decisive action.
The political fallout is likely to continue, with pressure mounting on the Albanese government to either justify its rejection of a royal commission more comprehensively or to reconsider its position in the face of sustained public and political pressure.
