Published: 3 June 2025
Last updated: 4 June 2025
Many Jews whether religious or not, believe in the idea of the messiah delivering for the Jewish people. The way some Jews campaigned at the recent federal election, it seemed they cast Peter Dutton, a vocal supporter of Israel, as that messiah, expecting he would become the new prime minister and cast out the "evil" Albanese Labor government.
Australian Jewish leadership, historically politically neutral virtually bet the house on Dutton winning, and a large and loud section of the Jewish community banked on them being right.
It was a dramatic failure: the Australian community rejected what the Liberals were selling, by a large margin.
The election campaign must be seen as a massive failure by the leadership of the Jewish community in political management, powered by what can only be described as an extraordinary level of arrogance.
Comments7
John Lefebure15 July at 10:19 pm
There has only ever been one Messiah, who was, who is and is to come. What is his name? The only name under heaven given onto me by which we will saved.
Brian stagoll4 June at 01:04 am
Very useful analysis The same applied Wills for Peter Khalill, but from the green’s support for”Free Palestine”,with a vicious campaign of abuse, threats and defacings against Khalill .This backfired badly:civility and tolerance won for the ALP .Thanks Henry
Ian Ossher3 June at 10:57 am
The extent to which the Liberals, together with their Liberal funded Better Australia, Advance Australia and Australians for Prosperity, tarnished the election with their hate-filled vitriol against the incumbent member for Wentworth was nothing short of disgraceful. With Dutton weaponizing anti-semitism as a political tool to draw support for his Liberal candidate, failed nevertheless in its absence of policy and the antogonistic, ‘I will be in the cabinet’ candidate who lied and sneered her way through the election, stoking the fear and anxiety of many members of the Jewish community to behave shamefully whenever and wherever they could. There were many of us ‘other’ Jews simply stupefied, ashamed and gutted by this behaviour. The thrill of the Liberals being downgraded to a nothing party nevertheless is a Pyrrhic victory, the vitriol unabated, the shameless still unashamed. Fortunately for Wentworth, their member returns to Parliament, a friend still to all her constituents, a policy driven intellectual with the capacity for empathy and sympathy for all.
Rachel Sussman3 June at 08:20 am
With all respect to the author I have to differ.
I agree that some in the community felt so threatened by Labor’s behaviour ( and still do) that they treated some Labor MP inappropriately. This is not acceptable even if their dismay at those MP for not standing by their community and Israel could be understood. I felt same betrayal by some Labor MP.
This is where my agreement begins and ends.
Peter Dutton was not regarded as a ‘Messiha’ such an implication is offensive to all who supported him. Peter Dutton was regarded as the politician that stood by Israel and the Jewish community unlike his counterpart – Mr Albanese – who failed miserably ( and is still failing) on both accounts. This was a fact.
The Jewish leadership did nothing wrong by openly expressing the community’s feelings and by standing by Mr Dutton.
You do not support someone because you know they are going to win. You support them because of what they stand for and you do your best to contribute towards a hopeful win.
The fact that Liberal lost, does not imply that leaders within the Jewish community and members of the community failed. It simply implied the will of the majority of Australians whether it is or is not also our will.
Personally I hope that in the future, we as a community and our leaders will fight likewise to protect ourselves and will not be detered nor guided simply by the fact that we may lose.
Aaron Dodd3 June at 08:12 am
Excellent summation by Henry Pinskier. Quality journalism.
Corinbe3 June at 07:40 am
Great article. A massive mistake by the community not reading the room. Expectations not met by Labour? So work with the party to aid understanding, and stop putting leaders between a rock and a hard place.
Simon Tatz3 June at 07:26 am
An insightful and articulate analysis. I was appalled by the overt political posturing of some conservatives about Zionism and Israel; including Tim Wilson. It didn’t help; and I reckon it turned some people away from Dutton’s Liberal Party. Burns is a very good local member and has managed the conflict with sensitivity and acumen.