Australian PM speaks out on antisemitism

Anthony Albanese has described the rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia as the worst social disharmony Australia has experienced in his lifetime.

Rising attacks on the Jewish community, including death threats, boycotts and doxing, have prompted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to condemn antisemitism unequivocally.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Albanese condemned all forms of antisemitism, citing in particular Greens MP Jenny Leong’s remark about the “tentacles” of the “Jewish lobby”.

“I condemn totally any form of antisemitism including the comments by my local member, the member for Newton, whose comments about tentacles with regard to the Jewish community I find offensive.”

Albanese noted that the reference to tentacles has its origins in antisemitism and added, “I condemn it unequivocally.” He also condemned Islamophobic comments and behaviour.

Albanese said Australia was experiencing the “worst social disharmony” he had seen, not only in his time in politics, but in his lifetime.

On Friday, Albanese initiated an interviewed with 3AW’s Tom Elliott to comment on a a Herald Sun report about Jewish residents fleeing Melbourne’s northern suburbs due to antisemitism. It followed The Jewish Independent’s report last week about a Jewish couple closing their northern suburbs shop due to antisemitic attack and boycotts.