‘Abhorrent, evil’: PM slams anti-Semitic attacks, calls for unity

Under pressure to address mounting acts of anti-Semitism in Australia, PM Anthony Albanese flew to Sydney to speak at Sydney’s Jewish Museum this afternoon.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described rising anti-Semitism in Australia as “abhorrent” after travelling to Sydney from Brisbane to address mounting unrest over anti-Semitism in Australia in the wake of another attack in Sydney’s east overnight.

Speaking from Sydney’s Jewish Museum, the PM said he had been briefed by AFP Commissioner Rhys Kershaw on the attack in Woollahra on Wednesday, and implored Australians to “understand anti-Semitism has consequences”.

“(This is) completely abhorrent to who we are as Australians,” Mr Albanese said.

Mr Albanese’s appearance came amid a sea of condemnation for anti-Semitism from the public and politicians following an attack overnight in Woollahra in which cars were vandalised, a vehicle torched and anti-Israel slogans were painted on the walls of houses in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

“This is about Jewish Australians … it’s an anti-Semitic attack against Jewish Australians,” the PM said.

Magney Street in Woollahra where a car was set alight and anti-Israel graffiti was sprayed on garage walls overnight.

“It diminishes us as a nation when we have events such as we saw here again overnight.

“I unequivocally condemn these shameless acts of violence … they are by any definition what terrorism is about.

“We need to make sure that we learn the lessons of history, and say never again.”

“We’re a tolerant country. We’re a country that is based upon respect for each other and we will work with all the authorities to make sure that these (people) will be brought to justice.”

Mr Albanese’s comments came as he announced $8.5 million in funding for upgrades to the Jewish Museum in Darlinghurst.

Anti-Israel slogans painted on a wall during the attack. Picture: Onscene

‘STAMP IT OUT’

Mr Albanese said it “diminishes us as a nation, when we have events such as we saw here again overnight”.

“Holocaust survivors came to Australia because we are a tolerant country,” he said.

“We’re one in which our whole Australian society is enriched by people living side by side, of different faiths, different ethnicities, different backgrounds, and we need a whole of government, a whole of society [effort] as well to make sure this is stamped out.”

The latest Sydney attack comes with the PM under mounting pressure to control a wave of anti-Semitism in Australia: global human rights organisation on Tuesday issued a travel advisory warning for Jewish people not to travel to Australia.

That warning came in the wake of the synagogue firebombing in Melbourne, which has since been ruled an act of terror.

Police do a line search on the street at the scene in Woollahra. Picture: Rohan Kelly

‘HATE CRIME’

The Woollahra attack is the second anti-Israel attack in the suburb in less than a month.

Police revealed today that the car set alight about 1am Wednesday was driven to the scene by the culprits, who then torched it.

NSW Premier Chris Minns vowed to catch the Woollahra “culprits” behind the attack he dubbed a “hate crime”.

NSW Premier Chris Minns, left, at the scene on Wednesday. Picture: Rohan Kelly

After visiting the scene of the attack, Mr Minns he told media outside Bondi Pavilion that he was “concerned about the rising attacks” on the Jewish community”.

“I don’t think there’s any point sugar coating it or downplaying it,” he said.

“This was specifically designed to in my view to incite hate and intimidate the Jewish community in Sydney.”

Mr Minns confirmed, alongside Police Commissioner Karen Webb, that the NSW Police will “return the resourcing” in place with Operation Shelter which came into place after the October 7 attacks in Israel.

Ms Webb added the police will be “increasing further patrols” on dedicated teams.