Australian Rabbis Call on Albanese to Establish National Antisemitism Inquiry
Jewish leaders urge Prime Minister to launch a federal royal commission following the Bondi Beach massacre and rising antisemitic incidents
Senior rabbis from across Australia have written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urging him to establish a federal royal commission into antisemitism in the wake of a deadly terror attack and an escalation of anti-Jewish hatred.
In their letter, leaders representing the Rabbinical Association of Australasia described recent violent and hateful incidents, including the Bondi Beach massacre in which fifteen people were killed during a Hanukkah celebration, as the culmination of a broader climate of hostility that has intensified in recent years and “did not emerge in a vacuum.” The rabbis called on the federal government to take decisive action that goes beyond state-level probes, arguing that a national inquiry is necessary to examine systemic failures in law enforcement, intelligence and policy that may have contributed to the attack and to rising antisemitism nationwide.
They also urged Canberra to consider banning what they describe as “hate-fuelled” rallies and extremist slogans that have been broadcast at various protests, characterising these events as part of a dangerous and normalised discourse of hatred that imperils Jewish communities.
The appeal comes amid mounting pressure from politicians across the spectrum, including the New South Wales Nationals leader and other federal lawmakers, who have joined calls for stronger national responses including a royal commission, enhanced hate-speech laws and tightened immigration and protest regulations.
Mr Albanese has so far resisted calls for a federal royal commission, maintaining that state inquiries, including a New South Wales-based royal commission into the Bondi attack, supplemented by planned government measures to curb hate speech and strengthen security, will address the issues.
The prime minister has acknowledged that more could be done to combat antisemitism and has announced a range of policy responses, including new legal powers to tackle hate speech and expanded security measures for at-risk communities.
Jewish leaders, however, say that only a comprehensive federal inquiry can fully uncover the causes of rising violence and hate and recommend the far-reaching reforms needed to safeguard vulnerable Australians and uphold national values of inclusion and safety.
In their letter, leaders representing the Rabbinical Association of Australasia described recent violent and hateful incidents, including the Bondi Beach massacre in which fifteen people were killed during a Hanukkah celebration, as the culmination of a broader climate of hostility that has intensified in recent years and “did not emerge in a vacuum.” The rabbis called on the federal government to take decisive action that goes beyond state-level probes, arguing that a national inquiry is necessary to examine systemic failures in law enforcement, intelligence and policy that may have contributed to the attack and to rising antisemitism nationwide.
They also urged Canberra to consider banning what they describe as “hate-fuelled” rallies and extremist slogans that have been broadcast at various protests, characterising these events as part of a dangerous and normalised discourse of hatred that imperils Jewish communities.
The appeal comes amid mounting pressure from politicians across the spectrum, including the New South Wales Nationals leader and other federal lawmakers, who have joined calls for stronger national responses including a royal commission, enhanced hate-speech laws and tightened immigration and protest regulations.
Mr Albanese has so far resisted calls for a federal royal commission, maintaining that state inquiries, including a New South Wales-based royal commission into the Bondi attack, supplemented by planned government measures to curb hate speech and strengthen security, will address the issues.
The prime minister has acknowledged that more could be done to combat antisemitism and has announced a range of policy responses, including new legal powers to tackle hate speech and expanded security measures for at-risk communities.
Jewish leaders, however, say that only a comprehensive federal inquiry can fully uncover the causes of rising violence and hate and recommend the far-reaching reforms needed to safeguard vulnerable Australians and uphold national values of inclusion and safety.
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