Federal budget 2025: Labor commits $31.2m for Adass Israel Synagogue

Anthony Albanese has committed $31.2m to rebuild the firebombed synagogue located in Melbourne’s inner southeast, with the funds to be formally revealed in next week’s federal budget.

Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue will be rebuilt with tough new security upgrades under a $31.2m Albanese government commitment.

The funding, which has been written into next week’s federal budget, comes a day after Opposition leader Peter Dutton pledged up to $35m to restore the synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne’s southeast , which was firebombed in an early morning terror attack in December.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday said Labor unequivocally condemned and stood against anti-Semitism in all its forms.

“The firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue was a crime of cowardice and prejudice,” he said.

“It was an attempt to threaten and silence the Jewish community, in Melbourne and right around Australia.

“We won’t stand for that.

“There can be no place in Australia for anti-Semitism.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his visit to the synagogue in December. Picture: Instagram

The PM described the attack on the synagogue as a ‘crime of cowardice’. Picture: David Geraghty

The restoration of the synagogue and community centre will receive $30m, while up to $1.2m will be put towards security for the existing buildings that are due to reopen this year.

Macnamara MP Josh Burns said the funding was in addition to the government’s $250,000 grant to the replace and restore religiously significant Torah Scrolls – ancient handwritten parchment that hold deep historical meaning to the community – which were damaged in the synagogue attack.

“We are committed to ensuring that this community rebuilds,” Mr Burns said.

“The rise of anti-Semitism is abhorrent and there is no place for the kind of hate speech and attacks we have seen recently in our country.”

Adass Israel board member Benjamin Klein on Monday said the cost of repairing the synagogue was estimated to be $45m, with $4m covered by insurance and another $6m fundraisers.

Labor sources believe the Coalition got wind their commitment would be in the budget and decided to announce their pledge before it.

Originally published as Federal budget 2025: Labor commits $31.2m for Adass Israel Synagogue