Anthony Albanese has bowed to pressure to convene a national cabinet in response to a wave of anti-Semitic attacks.
The Prime Minister has for weeks resisted calls to call a crisis meeting of state and territory leaders, but has now relented following another anti-Semitic incident.
On Tuesday morning, there was an attempted arson attack at a daycare center in Maroubra, in Sydney’s south, and graffiti reading “fuck the Jews” was also sprayed.
It was the latest in a long line of anti-Semitic incidents to afflict Australia.
On Friday, the former home of a prominent Jewish leader, Alex Ryvchin, was drenched in red paint as cars were spray-painted and set on fire in the street.
Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jews, had written to Albanese last month to request an urgent meeting of the national cabinet following the terrorist attack on the Adass synagogue in Melbourne.
But his request fell on deaf ears.
So did a similar request from Albanese’s own hand-picked anti-Semitism envoy, Jillian Segal, who accused the Prime Minister of failing to show “leadership” on the issue.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton also called on Albanese to convene a national cabinet and promised on Monday that the Coalition would convene one if elected.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) has for weeks resisted calls to call a crisis meeting of state and territory leaders, but has now relented following another anti-Semitic incident.
An anti-Semitic slur was found spray-painted on the outside wall of the nursery (pictured), and the building was set alight in another hate crime to plague Sydney.
“The shocking rise of antisemitism in our country is a national crisis that requires a national response,” Mr Dutton said.
‘I first asked the Prime Minister to convene a national cabinet on antisemitism in November 2023. He did not do so.
“Last week I wrote to him again requesting a National Cabinet on this very urgent matter, but he is still evading his responsibility.”
Just 24 hours after the Coalition’s campaign promise, Albanese will hold a meeting of state and territory leaders on Tuesday afternoon.
He is expected to officially announce it Tuesday afternoon.
It came after an apparent anti-Semitic bombing destroyed a daycare center in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Tuesday morning.
Emergency services were called to the Only About Children nursery on the corner of Anzac Parade and Storey Street, Maroubra, about 1am following reports of a fire.
The arsonists set fire to the daycare and spray painted an anti-Semitic slur on the outside wall.
Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jews, had written to Mr Albanese last month to request an urgent meeting of the national cabinet following the terrorist attack on the Adass synagogue in Melbourne. But his request fell on deaf ears. (Mr Ryvchin is pictured with his wife in front of their former family home, which was attacked on Friday)
A series of very disturbing anti-Semitic attacks in recent days and weeks, including the bombing of a synagogue and an attack on the former home of a prominent Jewish leader (pictured), has led the Coalition to announce a series of new and harsh measures.
Police believe the attack may have targeted the wrong property as there is a synagogue 150 meters down Anzac Parade and the damaged nursery had no connection to it..
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as an “evil hate crime”.
“My Government will support NSW Police in pursuing criminals and ensuring they face the full force of the law through Operation Avalite,” Mr Albanese said.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission, said the recent attack sent “chills down the spines of all Australians”.
“It is a chilling reminder that anti-Semitism knows no borders, that it will go to the darkest depths, even a place intended for small children, to leave its mark,” Dr. Abramovich said.
“Whoever committed this heinous act chose to use fear as a weapon against the most vulnerable among us.
“We must redouble our efforts to educate, legislate and fight with everything we have against the forces of hate.”
Opposition leader Peter Dutton announced on Monday his plan to implement stricter laws to combat antisemitism.
Terrorism offenses would carry a minimum of six years in prison under the coalition’s proposed laws, while those who display signs of terrorist organizations, display Nazi symbols or perform a Nazi salute would face at least a year behind bars.
“They force courts to impose sentences when circumstances do not justify it due to the nature of the crime or the offender’s background,” he said.