The arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue has become the latest source of political recriminations over anti-Semitism and social cohesion, as authorities weigh declaring it a terrorist incident.
Federal and Victorian police are meeting today to discuss that designation, a decision for the state police force which would unlock greater involvement from the AFP and other federal agencies.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was his “personal view” that the attack met “the definition of terrorism,” but that he would respect the established process for a formal declaration.
It followed a demand from Peter Dutton that he “have the guts” to use the terrorism label, and an accusation that the PM’s “weak leadership” made him culpable for anti-Semitism.
On Monday, Mr Dutton said the terrorism description had taken too long and announced he would if elected set up a law enforcement taskforce dedicated to anti-Semitism and give a directive that the AFP prioritise the issue.
The Coalition has also proposed that Labor’s security funding package for Jewish schools and community centres, which received $32.5 million in new funding on Sunday, should be allowed to fund armed guards.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus defended the PM on Monday morning, saying he was “right” to express his personal view, but declined to use the word “terrorism” himself, saying that as the minister responsible for the AFP he would await a declaration.
“I think it’s always important that we let police do their work… and let them make the announcements,” he said.
Mr Dreyfus, who is Jewish, said the attack had “caused distress and fear in the Jewish community in Melbourne, in my community, and what we need to do is unite as a country.”
Ministers clash over directions to police
Labor minister Chris Bowen accused the Coalition of politicising the attack, calling it “one of the lowest things I’ve seen in public life” and suggesting the opposition was undermining the independence of the police.
“It’s the job of the prime minister and the parliament to set the laws and it’s the job of the police to enforce the laws,” Mr Bowen said.
The Coalition’s home affairs spokesperson James Paterson said he believed governments should “make clear… what their expectations are” of police.
“The community expects us to lead and they expect us to send clear signals.”
He accused the PM of lacking “moral clarity” in his condemnation of anti-Semitism because he often mentioned Islamophobia at the same time.
“We don’t need to balance communities’ experience of racism against each other… Both of those things are equally abhorrent but they are not equally prevalent.”
Liberal senator Dave Sharma said “any time any senior minister mentioned anti-Semitism in the last 12 months they also mentioned a fictitious Islamophobia which was not going on.”
The Islamophobia Register of Australia and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry track reported incidents of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, respectively, using different methodologies.
Each group published a preliminary report focused on the immediate aftermath of the October 7 attack last year and reported that incidents of hatred had spiked significantly.
Mr Bowen accused the Coalition of a “disgusting, low rent approach… both [forms of discrimination] exist and both can be called out and it is not diminishing one or the other to say that as the prime minister has done.”
“It’s wrong to say that Islamophobia has no role to play in Australia.”
The opposition’s announcement also includes new powers to deport migrants who are involved in protests or incident deemed anti-Semitic.
Senator Paterson said he did not have evidence that any migrants had been involved in such incidents because he did not have access to briefings, but said “it is impossible for me to believe that not a single person on a visa visiting our country has been involved.”
Dutton takes aim at Jewish MP
Labor MP Josh Burns, who is Jewish and in whose electorate the attack took place, said he was “open” to the idea of extending government funding to armed guards.
“Yesterday the prime minister made an announcement about increased security funding, that’s an important thing and it was turned around quickly… I’m open to all suggestions.”
Mr Burns dismissed a personal attack on him by Mr Dutton, who said he had “not stood up to a weak prime minister” and was “part of a political party that is the problem.”
“He can say whatever he wants about me, I couldn’t care less,” Mr Burns said.
“This has been my life, my world, my community. My office was attacked and I have spent every day working as hard as I can for my community… It doesn’t serve the Jewish community to be fighting amongst themselves.”
