Peter Dutton pledges to set up ‘anti-Semitism task force’ after Synagogue attack

Peter Dutton has visited the Melbourne synagogue that was the target of a terror attack, pledging to tackle rising anti-Semitism.

Peter Dutton is pledging to set up an “anti-Semitism taskforce” if the Coalition wins next year’s federal election.

The Opposition Leader’s promise comes after the arson attack, now deemed a terror attack, of a Melbourne synagogue sparked fresh fears in Australia’s Jewish community.

Mr Dutton said on Monday “the blatant racism that we’ve seen against people of Jewish faith and heritage has been obvious on a daily basis” since Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attack in Israel last year.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is pledging to set up an anti-Semitism taskforce if the Coalition wins next year’s federal election. Picture: NewsWire/ Brendan Beckett

Mr Dutton visited the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea following the arson attack last Friday. Picture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

“Thousands of cases of people who have been targeted in their businesses, in their communities, in their places of worship, and that is thoroughly unacceptable,” he told reporters in Melbourne.

“So today I announce that stronger action and national leadership will be brought to the table, and a Dutton Coalition government will act from day one to fix Labor’s law enforcement crisis through a number of policy measures.”

Among those measures is the new taskforce led by the Australian Federal Police and other law enforcement and security agencies.

“It will look at the historic complaints that have been made since October 7 last year, in relation to doxing matters and in relation to blatant acts of discrimination, racism online and threats that have been made to people of Jewish faith in our country,” he said.

Mr Dutton later visited the synagogue and met community members.

“I think we all need to come together and make sure that we can call out evil where we see it, and this really is evil,” Mr Dutton said.

“We need to make sure that the anti-Semitism that has now become commonplace in our society is repelled at every opportunity.

“And we need to make sure that as a society, we stand united with the Jewish community and let them know that we do not tolerate any act of anti-Semitism in our country.”

The firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne has sparked fresh fears of rising anti-Semitism in Australia’s Jewish community. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Later on Monday, Anthony Albanese announced the establishment of an anti-Semitism task force, headed by the Australian Federal Police and involving ASIO.

Mr Albanese made the announcement on Monday alongside AFP chief commissioner Reece Kershaw, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus following a meeting of the National Security Committee.

“Our world-class agencies will provide all the support necessary to find the perpetrators and ensure they face the full force of the law,” he told reporters in Canberra.

Victorian and federal counter-terrorism units are still investigating the fire. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

The Albanese government has come under fire for not doing more to combat the spike in anti-Semitism, with some blaming Mr Albanese for allowing the arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue last week.

Victorian and federal counter-terrorism were still investigating at reporting, and set to discuss their findings on Monday.

Among those pointing the finger at the Albanese government is Benjamin Netanyahu in the wake of the fire.

The Israeli Prime Minister accused Labor of having an “extreme anti-Israeli position”.

The burning of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne is an abhorrent act of antisemitism. I expect the state authorities to use their full weight to prevent such antisemitic acts in the future.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to separate this reprehensible act from the extreme…

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) December 6, 2024

Bu Mr Dreyfus rejected Mr Netanyahu’s charge, saying it was “absolutely wrong”.

“I respectfully disagree with Mr Netanyahu,” Mr Dreyfus told the ABC on Monday.

“Australia remains a close friend of Israel as we have been since the Labor government recognised the state of Israel when it was created by the United Nations.”

Originally published as Peter Dutton pledges to set up ‘anti-Semitism task force’ after Synagogue attack