Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has bowed to pressure to call a meeting of state and territory leaders to respond to a wave of anti-Semitic attacks in Australia’s cities.
Albanese will hold a national cabinet this afternoon after another anti-Semitic attack overnight, this time an attempted arson at a daycare center in Maroubra, Sydney, where anti-Jewish graffiti was also sprayed.
It is the latest in a series of hate crimes against Jewish people over the summer, including a terrorist attack on a synagogue in Melbourne, an attempted arson attack on another synagogue in Sydney, vandalism at the former home of a Jewish community leader and several more. incidents of anti-Jewish vandalism in homes and cars.
The federal government has resisted repeated calls to convene a national cabinet, first called by the opposition more than a year ago following the outbreak of war in Gaza and Palestinian protests outside the Sydney Opera House.
Last month, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry wrote to Mr Albanese asking for an urgent meeting of the national cabinet following the terrorist attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne.
And last week, the administration’s own chosen anti-Semitism envoy, Jillian Segal, joined those calls, saying the federal government should coordinate a nationwide tightening of bail and sentencing laws for anti-Semitic crimes.
Following his call, Albanese met with the premier of Victoria and the acting premier of New South Wales, which Segal said had been a “good first step”.
Asked again this morning whether he would convene a national cabinet, Albanese said he would hold further talks on the matter today, but that many of the state and territory leaders were on leave.
He told the ABC last night that the “important discussions taking place” were between national security and law enforcement agencies.
Yesterday the Coalition promised it would legislate a mandatory minimum jail term for anti-Semitic offenses and a new Commonwealth offense for threatening places of worship, which would carry a five-year jail term.
Albanese said mandatory sentences could be counterproductive, but that his government was willing to take any measures necessary to counter anti-Semitism.
Labour’s national platform, which sets the party’s political tone as voted for by its members, expressly opposes mandatory prison sentences for offences.
However, the government already acted against that position last year when it legislated mandatory terms for detained immigrants released under the NZYQ High Court ruling.
As anti-Semitic attacks have continued, pressure has increased on governments to strengthen legislation.
This morning, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns confirmed his government would bring in new laws to toughen sentencing and bail laws.
Ms Segal previously said that courts must recognize that acts of vandalism must be considered seriously and within the context in which they occur.
A meeting of attorneys general early next month is expected to discuss laws on sentencing and bail for acts of anti-Semitism.
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