Article published on-line in the Australian Financial Review on 15 December 2025, https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/what-australia-must-do-now-to-confront-antisemitism-20251215-p5nnpb
Australians are proud of our social cohesion, respect for each other, and multiculturalism. No longer are Jews and Catholics banned from certain clubs and workplaces as they were fifty years ago. As for Muslims and Hindus, whatever our faith or none, or when it comes to the colour of our skin, fairness and tolerance are by-words for what it means to be Australian.
Sunday night put those fine words and noble sentiments to the test. We must ensure they are not broken ideals and, instead, are strengthened and enriched by determined action to recognise what happened, why, and to take necessary steps to combat the poison of anti-Jew hatred.
How refreshing to know Ahmed El Ahmed, a by-stander of Arab heritage, in hospital from gunshot wounds, heroically acted to disarm one of the killers at Bondi. Nearby, at Christmas Carols at the Church of the Holy Family, Maroubra, on Sunday the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, the Very Rev. Anthony Fisher part-way through the service asked all to pray for the victims at Bondi. His Grace spontaneously shared that his grandmother on his mother’s side is Jewish, that Mary and Joseph and Jesus are all Jewish. He implored all to pray, to show love and care for all Jewish people, and to extend our support to those impacted.
The Prime Minister and the NSW Premier spoke eloquently that the attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on all of us.
What needs to happen now? Action.
First, we must see what the ASIO, ASIS, police and security investigators tell us. I want to know how the gunmen owned six sophisticated weapons.
But we shouldn’t just wait.
We must heed the warnings of Jillian Segal’s report, the Envoy’s Report on Antisemitism, issued last July, that we are witnesses to growing, insidious attacks on all we hold dear as Australian values.
Australians must fight this by exposing and eliminating from public life those who preach hatred and division. Let Australia’s leaders be resolute and united and put aside partisanship in leading this battle.
Community and governments’ financial support for security at Jewish schools, synagogues and community centres is at record highs. Sunday teaches us more is needed. The Envoy’s report stated: ““If threats escalate, emergency coordination measures, including a standing joint task force and potential national security declarations, should be considered.”
The government should reaffirm the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition on antisemitism (which, as I have argued on these pages, allows healthy debate on Israel’s government, contrary to some wild assertions by opponents.)
The Envoy’s plan must be implemented.
Her report highlights diverse Jewish Australian identities, ongoing contributions of Jewish Australians to the progress of Australia and combatting stereotypes and misinformation in communication channels.
Significant work has advanced with the major universities, including funding and utilising research and data to identify the drivers of antisemitic behaviour. Australian universities must adequately investigate antisemitism on campuses and hold those enacting it to account.
All those efforts prioritise strengthening broad social cohesion, including fostering inter-faith dialogue.
Like other western governments, Australia’s needs to proscribe Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT) and the Muslim Brotherhood and its related entities in Australia. We know they are active on Australian university campuses and elsewhere, fomenting Islamist extremism and antisemitism.
The government needs to take Islamist extremism indoctrination (that is hate preaching, social media influence and manipulation), including Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network (APAN) syllabus propaganda in schools which denies Jewish indigenous rights to live in the land of Israel, and foreign interference, seriously.
The Australian government needs to recognise the process of stochastic terrorism and likewise the direct role that Qatar and Iran play in orchestrating terror networks internationally. We have expelled the Iranian Ambassador from our shores, but extremist activity, influence, and radicalisation is on-shore, fed by overseas and domestic radicals.
The work and publications of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) are incredibly resourceful and well informed, including on HT, Muslim Brotherhood and Qatari efforts to subvert true educational inquiry, including in Australia.
We also need to help those building bridges within our community. Overwhelmingly, Aussie Muslims are appalled by Sunday’s murders.
The NSW Premier Chris Minns was right to say Sunday night’s gunmen would love nothing better than Australians turning on each other.
Early this year, the Prime Minister announced funding for Project Rozana, bringing Palestinians and Israelis together, including Australian doctors, nurses and health professionals, in aid of building connections.
Together for Humanity is a domestic charity that brings kids from Christian, Muslim, and Jewish backgrounds together, so they better understand and love each other.
Politics demands conviction. It is best served with courage that applies especially to tough measures. We need rousing defiance and solidarity like never before.
It would also be nice to see brightly projected on the Sydney Opera House sails a Hanukkah Menorah, with no-one nearby screaming “gas the Jews” this time, please.
