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Antisemitism, Israel & Australia’s election

Read our election analysis on the issues specifically affecting Jewish voters and share your thoughts on whether your vote will be affected by Israel or antisemitism.

Dutton Albanese and parliament house
Election Series — Instagram Tile (600 x 400 px) (1)

Albanese, Dutton and Parliament House illustration
Australia Votes 2025EditorialAustralia

Make your vote meaningful

The Jewish Independent 4

There is a genuine choice in this election for Jewish voters, but it is not in the narrow issues of responding to antisemitism or Israel policy.

  • Photo composite showing man and woman being crucified
    Australia Votes 2025OpinionAustralia

    Beware false messiahs

    Henry Pinskier 7
  • Election poster for Josh Burns with a red graffiti star of David around his face
    Australia Votes 2025AnalysisAustralia

    Facing the fallout from an ugly election

    Michael Visontay 1
  • Map of Australia with star of david
    Image of Anthony Albanese wearing a skullcap
    Cartoon shows Peter Dutton drinking from a bottle labelled 'Jewish semen'
    Map of Australia with the a poster with the words Danger Australia Currently Controlled by Jews
    Photos of six white bald Jewish men
    Logos of Jewish organisations with the tag line 'Australia has been completely jewed'
    Post claiming Australia is occupied by 'ZioJews' (Cyberwell)
    Australia Votes 2025NewsAustralia

    Online antisemitism mars election campaign

    Deborah Stone
  • Election poster for Josh Burns with a red graffiti star of David around his face
    Australia Votes 2025NewsAustralia

    Pamphleteers spread hate, weaponise Jewish experience

    Deborah Stone 2
  • 4 poker blue chips, one red, illustrating Jewish community preference for Liberal over Labor in federal election.
    Australia Votes 2025AnalysisAustralia

    If Labor wins, the Jewish community faces a challenge rebuilding bridges

    Dean Sherr 2
  • election corflutes for Josh Burns along the pavement
    Australia Votes 2025OpinionAustralia

    The main parties are so uninspiring but I can’t risk the alternatives

    Nomi Kaltmann 1
  • two speech bubbles with cracks
    Australia Votes 2025EditorialAustralia

    Antisemitism politics is out of control 

    The Jewish Independent 6
  • Goldstein Zoe Tim
    Australia Votes 2025AnalysisAustralia

    Focus Goldstein: Libs run hard on antisemitism against Teal incumbent

    Julie Szego
  • muslim vote (1)
    Australia Votes 2025AnalysisAustralia

    The power of the Muslim vote

    Josh Roose
  • JOSH BURNS OFFICE broken window VANDALISM
    Australia Votes 2025OpinionAustralia

    Why I believe Macnamara’s Jews must save Josh Burns 

    Nick Dyrenfurth 7
  • Sonya Semmens
    Australia Votes 2025InterviewAustralia

    Focus Macnamara: Greens want to earn back Jewish vote

    Ruby Kraner-Tucci 3
  • Josh burns
    Australia Votes 2025InterviewAustralia

    Focus Macnamara: Labor hears the pain

    Deborah Stone
  • Benson saulo
    Australia Votes 2025InterviewAustralia

    Focus Macnamara: Jewish voters give Liberals hope

    Deborah Stone
  • ALLEGRA SPENDER CAMPAIGN LAUNCH
    Australia Votes 2025InterviewAustralia

    Focus Wentworth: Spender’s testing time

    Michael Visontay
  • Liberal candidate for Wentworth Ro Knox (Image: supplied).
    Australia Votes 2025InterviewAustralia

    Focus Wentworth: Liberal plan to reclaim their heartland

    Michael Visontay
  • Labor candidate for Wentworth Savanna Peake (Image: supplied).
    Australia Votes 2025InterviewAustralia

    Focus Wentworth: ‘Labor is in this race to win’

    Michael Visontay
  • Jewish arts quarter
    Australia Votes 2025AnalysisArts & Culture

    Coalition matches Jewish Arts Quarter pledge

    Deborah Stone
  • banner for copy 2 660 x 300 (1200 x 800 px)
    Australia Votes 2025PodcastAustralia

    Tensions Transplanted tackles the election

    The Jewish Independent
  • Nina Sanadze
    Australia Votes 2025VideoArts & Culture

    Adass fire meets election in pop-up exhibition

    Hannah Chester
  • green question mark
    Australia Votes 2025AnalysisAustralia

    A big Green question mark

    Dean Sherr 1
  • Jewish arts quaret
    Australia Votes 2025NewsArts & Culture

    Labor promises $18 million for Jewish Arts Quarter

    Deborah Stone 1

Voices of our community

  • For the first time in my life, I won’t vote Labor

    Hannah , 40

    I am a third-generation Jewish ALP member.

    For the first time in my life, I will not vote for the Australian Labor Party this election. Neither will my parents or brother.

    I believe in the values and promise the Party offers, but I cannot give Anthony Albanese my vote.

    From the Prime Minister dismissing the act of bearing witness at the kibbutzim and Nova sites in southern Israel as a “photo op” to Labor MPs treating Jewish constituents—in many cases those who have...

    New South Wales
    Read more
  • Dutton is using Jews as a political cudgel

    Asher

    As a longtime Greens voter, I will not be voting for them. On the other hand, I will never vote LNP. Dutton does not care about Jews – we are a political cudgel for him to attack Labor and he does not have our best interests at heart.

    Victoria
    Read more
  • We should vote on all Australia’s challenges

    Ian Bowie, 85
    retired

    If the preferences we express for candidates standing for local electorates or for the Senate reflect in any way our views towards or against any particular country, or ethic group, or religion, then we have to worry about the future of Australia and its politics. Let’s think and vote according to our consciousness of the very many challenges that will face Australia in the next years and decades.

    2576, New South Wales
    Read more
  • I’m voting against Wong

    ellen , 93
    retired

    I will not vote ALP because of Penny Wong. I think her conduct, going to Israel but not visiting a kibbutz that was invaded October 7 2023 is despicable as is so much of her conduct that relates to Jewry.

    Paddington, New South Wales
    Read more
  • Antisemitism has moved me towards Labor

    ANDREW JAKUBOWICZ, 76
    retired

    Yes. I now totally distrust the Liberals who seem to be using a fake philosemitism to bolster their political position by manipulating vulnerable people in the Jewish community. I distrust the Greens who are promoting Hamas fascist rhetoric. I think Labor is between a rock and a hard place and is doing OK. Its a horrific scenario ahead of us and we need balanced and empathetic leaders not self-serving and uncaring ones. So yes and towards the ALP I think.

    Coogee, New South Wales
    Read more
  • I will be voting on other issues

    Cheryl Soafkin

    I think Peter Dutton has weaponised antisemitism to divide the community and seek electoral advantage. He hardly has a great record on racism going back to his comments about African gangs, targeting the South Sudanese community in Victoria. But all forms of racism are abhorrent. And the Liberals’ attacks on Jewish Labor MPs Mark Dreyfus and Josh Burns have been despicable. Moreover, I will be voting on other issues, such as my fears about Peter Dutton’s planned slashing of the...

    Kew East, Victoria
    Read more
  • Antisemitism has been weaponised by the Opposition

    Ralph Pliner

    Antisemitism has been weaponised by the Opposition as an election issue. Australian Jews by en large have bought into this unsavoury and expedient political opportunism debasing the significance and extent of the issue in Australia.

    I most emphatically will not be affected by antisemitism or Israel in casting my vote.

    New South Wales
    Read more
  • Little difference between Labor and Liberal

    Raymond Garfield, 80
    Retiree

    Both parties make promises equal to each other. They are vote-hunting, and both seem to patronise us. As I find very little difference between Labor and Liberal, I shall vote independent or write ‘NONE OF THE ABOVE’ on my ballot sheet.

    NORTH BONDI, New South Wales
    Read more
  • Deeply conflicted

    Jan

    Despite my long and deep involvement with the Greens and admiration for their climate policies, due to their complete confusion about Israel/”Palestine “, I now feel deeply conflicted in deciding who to vote for. “None of the above” feels like a distinct possibility.

    West End, Queensland
    Read more
  • Trumpism versus milquetoast

    Zed Juvris, 64
    training manager

    Most certainly I won’t be influenced by duplicitous words intended for Jewish consumption deploring antisemitism while social division is fomented through the pointing of fingers at other communities. Propaganda and dehumanisation have never ended well.

    The position on Israel? I will not vote for a party or candidate who supports the dismantling of the state or the equivalent of the wholesale expulsion of the Jewish people.

    But then, I will not vote for a party or candidate who supports the ongoing war,...

    Caulfield South, Victoria
    Read more
  • Why would I vote for more of the same?

    Julian

    This Government’s body of work is 3 years of making life more dangerous for Jews, demonising Israel and encouraging and enabling antisemitism. Why would I vote for more of that?

    Read more
  • Labor lost me with Wong’s call for ‘restraint’ after Oct 7

    Romaine

    Once Penny Wong urged Israel to exercise ‘restraint’ a day after Oct 7, Allegra Spender voted with the Teals to restore funding for UNWRA, the weak response of the present govt and resultant explosion of anti-semitism, I couldn’t possibly vote for anyone other than the Liberal Party (possibly for the first time in my life!).

    Potts Point, New South Wales
    Read more
  • It’s time for independent politicians

    John D Cooper, 76
    Retired

    As a proud Australian-Jew with many links to Israel, I will be voting for all minor parties first. Then, I will hold my nose and vote for one of the two major parties just ahead of the Australian Greens. The Greens will be last on my ballot paper. I do not and will not follow any political party’s How to...

    Nambour, Queensland
    Read more
  • Antisemitism and Israel policy are inseperable

    Dagmar

    ALP ” policy” on Israel and antisemitism – which are one inseparable issue and not two different problems – leads me and many of our friends to say bye to this sad cast of mediocre nasty politicians…Beazley is missed!

    Toorak, Victoria
    Read more
  • Dutton’s pro-Israel stance is just bonus

    Zak Douek, 64
    Semi-Retired

    Our focus should be on what matters most to us as Australians as at the end of the day, Australia no matter which political party is in government, does not really matter when it comes to things pertaining to Israel. Yes, I found it repugnant to see the Greens being so anti-Israel, and the Teals supporting funding UNRWA, the Labours turnabout when voting at the UN as well as the blatant bias shown by Penny Wong and the lame response...

    Bondi, New South Wales
    Read more
  • This government has failed

    Michele

    Yes, the current Government has failed to take a leadership stand on antisemitism and pro-Hamas/terrorism activities in Australia, especially in higher education (Australian universities). I will be voting for Peter Dutton, who is not afraid to address this national crises.

    Read more
  • I don’t trust Dutton

    Sue Block, 69
    reired

    I do not trust Dutton – he makes promises just to get voted in- the Labour government – will look after the poor more than the Liberal Government which has in the past taken money from the poor to give to the rich.

    Although we need to curtail anti-semiitism – none of the two governments are not wholeheartedly going to meet the needs of us Jews – They need the votes of the Islamic voters – so they will stay on...

    Prahran, Victoria
    Read more
  • This government abandoned us

    Rachel Sussman, 74
    Returec

    When I was young I was an ardent Labor votet. As I matured I becam a I ‘swinging voter’ recognising both good and bad in each party and voting in accordance with the state of the parties, their leaders, and what I see best for the country at the time.
    I am Australian I am Jewish and Israel always holds an important place not only because it is my country of birth and because I have lots of family and...

    Brighton Le Sands, New South Wales
    Read more
  • I will vote for separation of government and religion

    Milton Fisher, 99
    retired

    I am a Jew and do not support Israel. I am also a supporter of democracy and believe it is not compatible with democracy for a government to support any religion. Religion to me is a mythical view of the universe which explains it for people who have a prescientific gestalt. Israel can be a Jewish state or a democracy not both. I will support candidates with the greatest commitment to the separation of government and religion. I believe that...

    BIRKDALE, Queensland
    Read more
  • Even Labor voters won’t vote Labor now

    Debbie

    Labor’s kowtowing to the Muslim vote in the Western electorate in Sydney and to a lesser extent in Melbourne and its refusal to preference the Greens last indicates that morality is defeated by the wish to remain in power. Additionally Penny Wong’s consistent chastisement of Israel in the face of continuous bombardment by the Arabs is morally bankrupt. I would not have voted Labor in any event but this demonstrates why previous Labor voters won’t consider voting Labor now. Their...

    CAULFIELD NORTH, Victoria
    Read more
  • I’d rather be ‘woke’ than ‘asleep’ or ‘sheep’

    Jack Frisch, 76
    Retired

    I, along with other Jewish supporters of Allegra Spender have been called a kapo, a self-hating Jew, an Uncle Tom and a traitor whose father would be rolling over in his grave if he knew how I was canvassing and voting. And of course, we are called “woke”. Not only by people I knew many years ago but also by some people who I thought were friends or mates. Not only since October 7, but ever since Spender stood against...

    Waverley, New South Wales
    Read more
  • Antisemitism rapidly descends to genocidal hate

    Stephen , 68
    Medical Practitioner

    Coming from a Holocaust survivor’s family, I have learnt that verbal threats and racist rhetoric can rapidly descend into a genocidal state of mind followed by actions.

    Caulfield North, Victoria
    Read more
  • Let’s not sleepwalk into a future we won’t recognise

    Simon Krite

     

    I write to you today not as a politician, but as a proud third-generation Australian Jew, a descendant of migrants who came to this country seeking freedom, safety, and opportunity. My family found all of that here. Like so many of yours, we have worked hard, contributed to our communities, and raised children to believe in the Australian values of fairness, unity, and respect for others.

    Australia is a mosaic of faiths, cultures, and backgrounds — Italian, Chinese, Indian, Greek, Jewish,...

    Melbourne , Victoria
    Read more
  • I am voting with many issues in mind

    Dinah , 33
    Teacher

    Although I believe that there has been an increase in antisemitism, I believe that there is more of an increase in neo-Nazi and anti-diversity behaviour and beliefs in Australia and around world as a whole. I believe that diversity ensures harmony and I aim to use my vote to ensure Australia remains a safe country for all now and in the future. I am voting with housing, education, Indigenous rights, healthcare, LGBTQIA+ rights, Women’s safety and the cost of living...

    Ascot vale , Victoria
    Read more
  • Will antisemitism or Israel affect your vote? Upload your answer below.

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