‘Horror weekend for Jews': Peta Credlin is ‘sick' of talk and ‘no action' from government
'We're sick of task forces and reviews and committees, it's a lot of talk and not a lot of action,' Ms Credlin said.
'Burning synagogues with people inside is a feature of the historical hate against Jews.
'We've got all the lessons from history but we're absolutely not watching and learning and picking up on those lessons from history.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Albo murky on Beijing's AI bid
Anthony Albanese has kept tight-lipped on China's offer to co-operate on artificial intelligence amid tensions between the government and the Trump administration. Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian wrote an op-ed this week saying Beijing was keen to take a 'more open attitude' to the free-trade agreement with Australia. Mr Xiao said that included bolstering 'co-operation in traditional areas such as agriculture and mining' but also exploring 'new growth areas in emerging fields like artificial intelligence' – a convenient offer against a backdrop of fierce AI competition with the US. Though, even as lacklustre Australian defence spending and US tariffs strain Canberra's alliance with Washington, the Prime Minister was hesitant to embrace or reject the offer on Tuesday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has neither embraced nor rejected China's offer to co-operate on artificial intelligence. Chris Kidd / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia 'We will determine our policy,' Mr Albanese told reporters in Hobart. However, he was quick to spruik the benefits of free trade with China. 'Of course, we have a free-trade agreement that was done by the Coalition government when they were in office,' Mr Albanese said. 'What we have done is to get rid of the more than $20bn of impediments of goods that were stopped from going to China. 'It's made an enormous difference and we have, indeed, products like wine and barley have not just bounced back – they're back higher than they were before.' He also spruiked his upcoming trip to China, calling it an 'important trading partner for Australia'. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet for a fourth time next week. Prime Minister's Office / NewsWire Credit: Supplied 'Twenty-five per cent of our exports go to China,' Mr Albanese said. 'What that means is jobs and one of the things that my government prioritises is jobs.' Pressed on whether he was open to having AI covered by the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, he dodged it, saying his 'priority is jobs'. China is in an AI race with the US. The launch of DeepSeek in January dealt the first serious blow to the US' global leadership in the space, with the ensuing tech sell-off wiping about $US1 trillion ($A1.5 trillion) in value off American titan Nvidia. The Trump administration earlier this year announced a $US500bn investment in AI, eclipsing all other countries as the clear frontrunner. About the same time, China launched a AI investment fund with an initial $8.2bn. But with DeepSeek free and offering capabilities comparable to American counterpart OpenAI, the AI race may not be won by those who splash the most cash.
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese snubs Jewish Australian community's antisemitism plan after synagogue attack
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed calls from the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Australian Jewish community to revisit plans to combat antisemitism. It comes after a scourge of antisemitic attacks since October 7, 2023, including the recent attempted arson attack at a synagogue. Despite this, Mr Albanese turned away from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry's (ECAJ) proposal to 'defeat antisemitism' on Tuesday. Asked at a press conference whether he would adopt the 15-point plan put forward by ECAJ, Mr Albanese sidestepped the proposal. 'What we're doing is working with the special envoy on antisemitism and we'll have more to say about that in coming days,' Mr Albanese told reporters. 'I appointed a special envoy – that was something that came from the community, that request. Jillian Segal has been doing a terrific job. 'We've responded substantially with increased security for synagogues, for Jewish schools, for community organisations.' He defended the government's record and said he 'engaged constructively with the community'. 'Antisemitism is a scourge. It has no place in Australia. And what we saw in Melbourne with the attacks that occurred are reprehensible,' Mr Albanese said. 'We will respond to any request constructively – that is what we have done.' ECAJ co-CEO Alex Ryvchin presented his 15-point plan to defeat antisemitism to Mr Albanese in February, 2025, after the Sky News Antisemitism Summit. Pressed on whether he would consider the request, including merging police task forces to coordinate a stronger response, Mr Albanese dismissed the idea. 'We have a task force, and what we do is take on security issues, we take advice from security agencies. That's precisely what we have done,' he said. He also dismissed calls to convene National Cabinet over the issue, saying, 'Let's be clear – what people want is not a meeting, they want action'. Earlier this year, Mr Albanese also said people didn't want 'more meetings, they want more action', before he convened a National Cabinet meeting on antisemitism. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been urging the Albanese government to do more to address antisemitism in Australia. 'I view with utmost gravity the antisemitic attacks that occurred last night in Melbourne,' Mr Netanyahu said in a statement released on the weekend. 'The reprehensible antisemitic attacks, with calls of 'Death to the IDF' and an attempt to attack a place of worship, are severe hate crimes that must be uprooted. 'We demand that the Australian government take all action to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law and prevent similar attacks in the future.' Asked if he had a response to the Israeli Prime Minister's comments, Mr Albanese said, "No, that's a matter for him". Opposition Leader Sussan Ley criticised Mr Albanese's response to the ECAJ proposal on Tuesday, declaring she would fully adopt the 15-point plan if elected. 'We commit, and we do so wholeheartedly, with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry's 15-point plan to combat antisemitism,' Ms Ley said. 'I want to know what Anthony Albanese is doing to protect Jewish Australians. I want to know what the government plans (to do) because… words are not enough.' About 20 people, including children, were inside the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation on Friday when a man allegedly attempted to set the building on fire. Victoria Police has since arrested a 34-year-old NSW man, and the investigation is ongoing. Mr Ryvchin described the attack as a 'severe escalation' in threats facing the community. 'We urge all sides of politics and all Australians to condemn these deplorable crimes,' he said on Sunday. 'Those responsible cannot be reasoned with or appeased. They must be confronted with the full force of the law.' The attack follows a wave of antisemitic incidents in Australia over the past months, including nazi vandalism, death threats, and arson attacks.
West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
PM unclear on Chinese AI offer amid Trump turbulence
Anthony Albanese has kept tight-lipped on China's offer to co-operate on artificial intelligence amid tensions between the government and the Trump administration. Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian wrote an op-ed this week saying Beijing was keen to take a 'more open attitude' to the free-trade agreement with Australia. Mr Xiao said that included bolstering 'co-operation in traditional areas such as agriculture and mining' but also exploring 'new growth areas in emerging fields like artificial intelligence' – a convenient offer against a backdrop of fierce AI competition with the US. Though, even as lacklustre Australian defence spending and US tariffs strain Canberra's alliance with Washington, the Prime Minister was hesitant to embrace or reject the offer on Tuesday. 'We will determine our policy,' Mr Albanese told reporters in Hobart. However, he was quick to spruik the benefits of free trade with China. 'Of course, we have a free-trade agreement that was done by the Coalition government when they were in office,' Mr Albanese said. 'What we have done is to get rid of the more than $20bn of impediments of goods that were stopped from going to China. 'It's made an enormous difference and we have, indeed, products like wine and barley have not just bounced back – they're back higher than they were before.' He also spruiked his upcoming trip to China, calling it an 'important trading partner for Australia'. 'Twenty-five per cent of our exports go to China,' Mr Albanese said. 'What that means is jobs and one of the things that my government prioritises is jobs.' Pressed on whether he was open to having AI covered by the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, he dodged it, saying his 'priority is jobs'. China is in an AI race with the US. The launch of DeepSeek in January dealt the first serious blow to the US' global leadership in the space, with the ensuing tech sell-off wiping about $US1 trillion ($A1.5 trillion) in value off American titan Nvidia. The Trump administration earlier this year announced a $US500bn investment in AI, eclipsing all other countries as the clear frontrunner. About the same time, China launched a AI investment fund with an initial $8.2bn. But with DeepSeek free and offering capabilities comparable to American counterpart OpenAI, the AI race may not be won by those who splash the most cash.
