Originally published in the AFR 11th December, 2024.

When Australia’s Jewish community has been under threat, strong prime ministers have stepped up to offer support and reassurance. Today, that sense of security is evaporating.

Australia was once a beacon of social cohesion and tolerance, a haven for those fleeing persecution. It offered Holocaust survivors and their descendants a welcoming embrace, a place where they could rebuild their lives free from fear.

However, the landscape has shifted dramatically. Over the past year, a surge in antisemitism has torn up our historical respect and care for Jewish Australians, transforming Australia into a dangerous place for our Jewish community.

It is time for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to take a clearer and unqualified approach to antisemitism in Australia. In doing this, he would do well to reflect on the lessons from Labor heroes Bob Hawke and H.V. Evatt.

The firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue and torched cars in Sydney are chilling examples of an alarming rise in Australian antisemitism. Australia’s international reputation is now tainted. Strong leadership is desperately needed to address this crisis, yet the response so far from Albanese and his government has been deeply underwhelming.

When asked about the synagogue attack, Albanese’s comment that antisemitism “has been around for a long period of time” was shockingly dismissive. Such remarks fail to grasp the gravity of the current situation. Yes, antisemitism is an ancient hatred, but that does not absolve contemporary leaders of their responsibility to combat it.

For decades, Australian leaders from across the political spectrum have risen to the occasion when antisemitism surged. Today, this tradition is faltering.

Throughout history, Australian prime ministers have stood firm in the face of antisemitism and worked to foster strong ties with the Jewish community. In 1918, Billy Hughes appointed John Monash as Commander of the Australian Corps, entrusting him with the defence of Australia. Monash, a Jew, became known as the “greatest living Australian” in the 1920s, and more than 250,000 people attended his funeral in 1931.

Joe Lyons, who led Australia from 1932 to 1939, announced in 1938 that Australia would accept 15,000 Jewish refugees from Czechoslovakia following the Nazi annexation. It was a bold and moral stance, taken in the face of significant opposition during the era of the White Australia Policy. Although logistical delays limited the program’s full impact, Lyons’ leadership was a testament to his commitment to doing what was right.

Labor hero Evatt continued this legacy in the 1940s as Australia’s external affairs minister. His contributions to the establishment of the state of Israel earned Australia the title of “surrogate midwife” in the birth of that nation.

The government’s approach to both antisemitism and Israel has damaged the trust Jewish Australians once had in our political leaders.
Similarly, Robert Menzies condemned a wave of global antisemitic incidents, including attacks on synagogues in Australia, in 1960 with a forceful Australia Day address, reaffirming the nation’s stance against bigotry.

Then there was Hawke, perhaps the Jewish community’s greatest ally among Australian prime ministers. Hawke was not only the first sitting prime minister to visit Israel, in 1987, but also a strong advocate for the Jewish people. His advocacy for Soviet Jews’ emigration to Israel and staunch defence of Israel at the United Nations set the standard for Australian leaders.

These examples from past prime ministers underscore that leadership matters. When Australia’s Jewish community has been under threat, strong leaders have stepped up to offer support and reassurance, and have reinforced Australia’s support for Israel as a nation state. Today, that sense of security is evaporating.

The Albanese government’s approach to antisemitism and its relationship with Israel has damaged the trust Jewish Australians once had in our political leaders.

Well before the Hamas attacks of October 7, the government began retreating from bipartisan support for Israel. Its decision in August last year to describe the West Bank as “occupied Palestinian Territory” was a significant shift, signalling a departure from established policy. This, coupled with its successive votes against Israel at the United Nations, sends a clear message: Australia’s commitment to Israel is no longer guaranteed.

The consequences of this shift are now playing out domestically. The Jewish community’s sense of safety is being eroded, with antisemitic incidents reaching alarming levels. Announcements of a police taskforce and increased funding for security are important, but they address symptoms rather than the causes. What is also needed is a comprehensive effort to foster understanding and tolerance.

One critical area is education. Much of the discourse surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is steeped in ignorance and devoid of historical context. Without a deeper understanding of history, the seeds of intolerance and division find fertile ground. The current wave of antisemitism is a national disgrace, and it is incumbent on all Australians to take a stand. But the responsibility lies most heavily on our elected leaders. As the examples of Lyons, Evatt, Menzies and Hawke demonstrate, true leadership requires moral courage – even when it is politically inconvenient.

Albanese and his government have an opportunity to change course. They must unequivocally condemn antisemitism, reaffirm Australia’s support for Israel, and take steps to rebuild trust with the Jewish community. Anything less risks further alienation of a community that has contributed so much to Australia’s success.