Australia's Jewish communities need increased protection, Opposition tell Prime Minister
Some 20 people were inside the synagogue at the time of the incident, in which flammable liquid was poured on the front door and set alight. The occupants managed to escape via the rear of the building and no one was injured.
Shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser said Mr Albanese needed to follow the lead of other world leaders in lifting efforts to protect Jewish communities from hateful attacks against the backdrop of conflict in the Middle East.
Mr Leeser said the PM had ignored a letter, sent on June 15, from Opposition leader Sussan Ley, shadow minister for home affairs Andrew Hastie and himself which had stressed the need for greater protection.
'This is a very sad day for Australia . . . one of the oldest synagogues in Australia has been fire bombed,' he told reporters on Saturday.
'It's a synagogue that bespeaks the rich and long history of the Jewish people in this country. There's even a prayer for the King there that goes back to Queen Victoria's time in both Hebrew and English.
'This is an attack on all Australians. It is not just an attack on the Jewish community and it sickens me, but yet again the Jewish community is having to put up with these attacks, and the increasing anti-Semitism people think has gone away but continues, sadly, unabated.'
Mr Leeser said the Opposition was putting the PM on notice to take more steps to protect the Jewish community.
'I don't know that he's done all he can here,' he said.
'We're calling on him to explain what measures he has taken to protect the Jewish community, and if he didn't take increased measures, why he didn't take increased measures at that time.'
Mr Leeser said there needed to be increased police presence and security around Jewish community buildings.
'We have got to put an end to the hate that we see in this country,' he said.
Victorian premier Jacinta Allan has condemned the synagogue attack as 'disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards'.
'That this happened on Shabbat makes it all the more abhorrent,' she said in a statement.
'Any attack on a place of worship is an act of hate, and any attack on a Jewish place of worship is an act of anti-Semitism.'
On Saturday, police released the image of a man detectives want to speak to about the incident.
He has been described as being of Caucasian appearance, believed to be in his 30s with a beard and long hair.
Damage from the fire was contained to the front entrance.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Slade Brockman: More regulation would strangle WA gas industry and Australian economy
It is no coincidence that Labor's default response to a gas supply crisis has always been the same tired three-card trick. First, blame the previous government. Then blame the market. Lastly, regulate, regulate, regulate. If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. The WA gas industry is one of the greatest economic success stories in modern Australian history — built here, by us, with no handouts, no apologies and minimal bureaucracy. In the past, while the Eastern States drowned in red-tape and ideology, WA quietly powered ahead. Our gas sector was made possible by bold leadership, not red tape interference from Canberra. The Brand and Court Liberal governments, from the late 1950s and into the 1980s, had the foresight to back this industry, not stifle it. They unlocked the vast resources of our State and set the foundation for WA to become the economic engine room of the nation. This wasn't achieved through over-regulation or endless reports and reviews. It was achieved by risk-takers, backed by massive private investment, and enabled by governments smart enough to get out of the way. In oil and gas especially, companies faced decade-long lead times, volatile markets, and complex offshore challenges — and they still delivered for our State and our nation. They poured hundreds of billions into the WA economy, built world-class infrastructure, and attracted generations of skilled workers. Woodside — now one of Australia's most important energy companies — was born of that pro-development environment. And our WA gas industry pays its way. In 2023, Woodside alone paid $5 billion in taxes and levies. Since 1984, the North West Shelf Project has returned over $40 billion in royalties and excise — including approximately $18b to WA — all while creating thousands of high-wage, long-term jobs. This is a success story built not on regulation but on vision, genuine enterprise and belief in the future. Sadly, the creeping tendrils of regulation have slowly wrapped themselves around the WA industry, making the future far less certain than it should be. According to the Government's own regulator, AEMO, WA could face gas shortages as early as 2028, with a real risk of shortfalls by 2030. Unbelievable. And what's Chris Bowen's solution to this? More regulation. More intervention. More of what caused the problem in the first place. That's his clever answer to government-induced shortages! Ideologically-driven governments and inner-city Eastern States think-tanks have been targeting the very industry that powers our nation — literally gaslighting Australians while their own States struggle to keep the lights on. They demonise gas while depending on it. They regulate it to strangle the industry out of existence, all the while pretending that renewables alone will fill the gap. Let's be blunt: if Labor's current policies had been in place in the 1970s, there would be no gas industry, no iron ore boom, no royalties, and no economic powerhouse in WA today. And if we let that short-sighted regulatory approach win, the next wave of economic development will never come. Just more red tape, more shortages, more excuses. Eastern States Labor governments have been strangling their own industries, banning new gas projects, and driving up energy costs — while hard working Australian families pay the price. WA cannot afford to import their failure. We cannot afford to be governed by the same timid, regulatory mindset that has left the east coast short of gas and long on excuses. The future demands more energy — not less. And cheaper, more reliable energy at that. Whether it's mining critical minerals, growing the service economy, or hosting power-hungry industries like advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence, energy is not optional. It is the foundation for prosperity. WA was built on hard work, courage, and the freedom to develop. That formula has never let us down. We don't need more regulation. We need to defend what works. Less interference, more development. That's how we keep the lights on, and our future bright. Slade Brockman is a Liberal Senator for WA
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Hunt continues for culprits behind anti-Semitic attacks
Australia's political leaders are under renewed pressure to tackle the scourge of anti-Semitism as police continue to probe a spate of fresh attacks. There were at least four anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne at the weekend, including the alleged firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. Israeli restaurant Miznon was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters not long after the alleged arson, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Three cars were set alight and a wall spray-painted with anti-Semitic "inferences" at a Greensborough business in the city's northeast in the early hours of Saturday morning. Police said overnight they were releasing CCTV of five people they want to speak to in relation to the incident, with detectives saying the group's members - who all wore black hooded jumpers, backpacks and gloves - left the business via a back fence and fled on e-bikes. A link has not been found between the attacks, nor a fourth incident in which stencils were used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. A 28-year-old from Footscray remains the only other arrest for allegedly hindering police at Miznon but was released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. The incidents have thrown down the gauntlet to the federal and Victorian governments, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus visited the East Melbourne synagogue on Sunday and described the alleged firebombing as an "attack on Australia". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as police continue to investigate whether it constitutes terrorism. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, who condemned the attack as an "act of hate", is expected to attend the site on Monday. She promised state bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. The legislation is yet to be introduced to parliament, although the state has previously strengthened anti-vilification laws and banned the public display of the Nazi salute and symbols. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for the prime minister to convene an urgent meeting of national cabinet to deal with the issue. But Victoria's opposition police spokesman David Southwick, who is Jewish, said there was no need for another "talkfest". "The time for talk is over. We need action," the Caulfield MP said. Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who presented a documentary on anti-Semitism in Australia following Hamas' October 7 terror attacks, called the wave of Melbourne incidents a "hate crime". "Violent anti-Semitism is a threat to us all and until it's called out for what it really is, it will continue," he wrote on social media. Australia's political leaders are under renewed pressure to tackle the scourge of anti-Semitism as police continue to probe a spate of fresh attacks. There were at least four anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne at the weekend, including the alleged firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. Israeli restaurant Miznon was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters not long after the alleged arson, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Three cars were set alight and a wall spray-painted with anti-Semitic "inferences" at a Greensborough business in the city's northeast in the early hours of Saturday morning. Police said overnight they were releasing CCTV of five people they want to speak to in relation to the incident, with detectives saying the group's members - who all wore black hooded jumpers, backpacks and gloves - left the business via a back fence and fled on e-bikes. A link has not been found between the attacks, nor a fourth incident in which stencils were used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. A 28-year-old from Footscray remains the only other arrest for allegedly hindering police at Miznon but was released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. The incidents have thrown down the gauntlet to the federal and Victorian governments, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus visited the East Melbourne synagogue on Sunday and described the alleged firebombing as an "attack on Australia". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as police continue to investigate whether it constitutes terrorism. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, who condemned the attack as an "act of hate", is expected to attend the site on Monday. She promised state bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. The legislation is yet to be introduced to parliament, although the state has previously strengthened anti-vilification laws and banned the public display of the Nazi salute and symbols. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for the prime minister to convene an urgent meeting of national cabinet to deal with the issue. But Victoria's opposition police spokesman David Southwick, who is Jewish, said there was no need for another "talkfest". "The time for talk is over. We need action," the Caulfield MP said. Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who presented a documentary on anti-Semitism in Australia following Hamas' October 7 terror attacks, called the wave of Melbourne incidents a "hate crime". "Violent anti-Semitism is a threat to us all and until it's called out for what it really is, it will continue," he wrote on social media. Australia's political leaders are under renewed pressure to tackle the scourge of anti-Semitism as police continue to probe a spate of fresh attacks. There were at least four anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne at the weekend, including the alleged firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. Israeli restaurant Miznon was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters not long after the alleged arson, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Three cars were set alight and a wall spray-painted with anti-Semitic "inferences" at a Greensborough business in the city's northeast in the early hours of Saturday morning. Police said overnight they were releasing CCTV of five people they want to speak to in relation to the incident, with detectives saying the group's members - who all wore black hooded jumpers, backpacks and gloves - left the business via a back fence and fled on e-bikes. A link has not been found between the attacks, nor a fourth incident in which stencils were used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. A 28-year-old from Footscray remains the only other arrest for allegedly hindering police at Miznon but was released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. The incidents have thrown down the gauntlet to the federal and Victorian governments, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus visited the East Melbourne synagogue on Sunday and described the alleged firebombing as an "attack on Australia". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as police continue to investigate whether it constitutes terrorism. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, who condemned the attack as an "act of hate", is expected to attend the site on Monday. She promised state bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. The legislation is yet to be introduced to parliament, although the state has previously strengthened anti-vilification laws and banned the public display of the Nazi salute and symbols. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for the prime minister to convene an urgent meeting of national cabinet to deal with the issue. But Victoria's opposition police spokesman David Southwick, who is Jewish, said there was no need for another "talkfest". "The time for talk is over. We need action," the Caulfield MP said. Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who presented a documentary on anti-Semitism in Australia following Hamas' October 7 terror attacks, called the wave of Melbourne incidents a "hate crime". "Violent anti-Semitism is a threat to us all and until it's called out for what it really is, it will continue," he wrote on social media. Australia's political leaders are under renewed pressure to tackle the scourge of anti-Semitism as police continue to probe a spate of fresh attacks. There were at least four anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne at the weekend, including the alleged firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. Israeli restaurant Miznon was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters not long after the alleged arson, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Three cars were set alight and a wall spray-painted with anti-Semitic "inferences" at a Greensborough business in the city's northeast in the early hours of Saturday morning. Police said overnight they were releasing CCTV of five people they want to speak to in relation to the incident, with detectives saying the group's members - who all wore black hooded jumpers, backpacks and gloves - left the business via a back fence and fled on e-bikes. A link has not been found between the attacks, nor a fourth incident in which stencils were used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. A 28-year-old from Footscray remains the only other arrest for allegedly hindering police at Miznon but was released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. The incidents have thrown down the gauntlet to the federal and Victorian governments, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus visited the East Melbourne synagogue on Sunday and described the alleged firebombing as an "attack on Australia". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as police continue to investigate whether it constitutes terrorism. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, who condemned the attack as an "act of hate", is expected to attend the site on Monday. She promised state bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. The legislation is yet to be introduced to parliament, although the state has previously strengthened anti-vilification laws and banned the public display of the Nazi salute and symbols. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for the prime minister to convene an urgent meeting of national cabinet to deal with the issue. But Victoria's opposition police spokesman David Southwick, who is Jewish, said there was no need for another "talkfest". "The time for talk is over. We need action," the Caulfield MP said. Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who presented a documentary on anti-Semitism in Australia following Hamas' October 7 terror attacks, called the wave of Melbourne incidents a "hate crime". "Violent anti-Semitism is a threat to us all and until it's called out for what it really is, it will continue," he wrote on social media.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Hunt continues for culprits behind anti-Semitic attacks
Australia's political leaders are under renewed pressure to tackle the scourge of anti-Semitism as police continue to probe a spate of fresh attacks. There were at least four anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne at the weekend, including the alleged firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. Israeli restaurant Miznon was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters not long after the alleged arson, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Three cars were set alight and a wall spray-painted with anti-Semitic "inferences" at a Greensborough business in the city's northeast in the early hours of Saturday morning. Police said overnight they were releasing CCTV of five people they want to speak to in relation to the incident, with detectives saying the group's members - who all wore black hooded jumpers, backpacks and gloves - left the business via a back fence and fled on e-bikes. A link has not been found between the attacks, nor a fourth incident in which stencils were used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. A 28-year-old from Footscray remains the only other arrest for allegedly hindering police at Miznon but was released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. The incidents have thrown down the gauntlet to the federal and Victorian governments, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus visited the East Melbourne synagogue on Sunday and described the alleged firebombing as an "attack on Australia". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as police continue to investigate whether it constitutes terrorism. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, who condemned the attack as an "act of hate", is expected to attend the site on Monday. She promised state bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. The legislation is yet to be introduced to parliament, although the state has previously strengthened anti-vilification laws and banned the public display of the Nazi salute and symbols. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for the prime minister to convene an urgent meeting of national cabinet to deal with the issue. But Victoria's opposition police spokesman David Southwick, who is Jewish, said there was no need for another "talkfest". "The time for talk is over. We need action," the Caulfield MP said. Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who presented a documentary on anti-Semitism in Australia following Hamas' October 7 terror attacks, called the wave of Melbourne incidents a "hate crime". "Violent anti-Semitism is a threat to us all and until it's called out for what it really is, it will continue," he wrote on social media.
