Labor MP Josh Burns’ St Kilda office attacked, set on fire by pro-Palestine vandals

Labor MP Josh Burns says the latest attack on his office by pro-Palestine activists in which a fire was lit is a “dangerous escalation” that has left him “nervous” about the future.

Federal Labor MP Josh Burns has emotionally declared that political hate and violence “needs to end” after his St Kilda office was attacked and set on fire by Palestine activists.

Pro-Palestinian activists smashed windows and lit a fire at Mr Burns’ Barkly St office early Wednesday in a significant escalation of the violence directed at Labor politicians.

Mr Burns, who is Jewish, said the latest attack followed months of abuse directed at him and his staff at their workplace.

“This is a dangerous escalation of people trying to bring a conflict on the other side of the world to our streets,” he said.

“It needs to end, it needs to stop because it’s dangerous … I’m worried for my colleagues.”

The office of federal Labor MP Josh Burns has been vandalised. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Burns said Mr Albanese had personally reached out to offer his unwavering support.

He said he was “nervous” about what could lie ahead for his office and branded the vandalism a “politically motivated attack”.

“It’s been a pretty distressing morning … this was really ugly behaviour,” he said.

“It’s a reflection of eight months of my team turning up to work and being abused and screamed at.

“I’ve got really good people working for me. They are hard working, decent, kind people, who have no role in a conflict on the other side of the world.

“And their place of work has just been smashed in by really dangerous idiots.

“I’m nervous about someone getting hurt … or worse.”

Mr Burns said he would not return to the office until it was safe to do so.

Mr Burns said it had been a distressing morning. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Burns’ office was vandalised by up to five offenders, who police allege set fire to two telecommunications pits outside the building about 3.20am on Wednesday.

Many of the building’s windows were smashed, red paint was poured throughout and a photo of the MP in the window was vandalised with the text “Zionism is Fascism”.

Police on Wednesday morning established a crime scene with much of the street closed in both directions.

The offenders, who appeared to have deliberately damaged the underground network cables, forced several neighbouring businesses to shut on Wednesday.

Many were unable to connect to the internet or use a landline.

CCTV footage showed two offenders, wearing hi-vis, pour an accelerant into the cable pits as two others smashed the windows.

Another was seen blasting the red paint across the windows and into the office.

Two small blazes then broke out on the footpath as the crew fled toward Blessington St.

Fire crews arrived within minutes to swiftly extinguish the blaze.

Dave’s Chinese manager Ken Su said it was unfair as he would likely lose a whole day of work.

“No internet means no business,” the frustrated businessman said outside his shop.

“95 per cent of our business relies on the internet with all the deliveries.

“We work so hard to pay the bills. We did nothing wrong, it affects everyone.”

Police are seeking up to five people over the attack. Picture: David Crosling

Anthony Albanese said the attack on a Jewish MP was “distressing” and there was “no place” for that type of vandalism and violence in Australia.

The Prime Minister said the criminals responsible for the attack had undermined their cause and should face the full wrath of the law.

“This has got to be seen as an attack on someone who’s a Jewish MP, someone who is running an office that looks after people’s interests,” Mr Albanese said.

“We understand that for some people, they feel very strongly about issues in the Middle East.

“But that’s no reason to target MPs half a world away in Australia and, in particular, the targeting of a Jewish MP is very distressing.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers condemned the attack saying it was “completely and utterly unacceptable”.

‘Extremism of the worst possible nature’

Jacinta Allan is facing calls to crackdown on growing anti-Semitism across Victoria, including backing a parliamentary inquiry into the scourge.

The Victorian Coalition is seeking to establish a parliamentary probe into the impact on social cohesion of deep antisemitism.

It comes as Liberal MP Renee Heath called for the Premier to outline what the government was doing to “stamp out this violent, and un-Australian behaviour”.

Ms Heath said an attack on Federal MP Josh Burns’ St Kilda electorate office was indicative of worrying extremist views.

“Terrorism and the modern left was not a coalition we were expecting to see, but we are.” she said.

“Just about every day, we hear members in this Parliament, from the Greens stand up and call for a genocide.

“Make no mistake, when they chant from the River to the Sea, that is exactly what they are calling for. This is extremism of the worst possible nature.”

Ms Heath was one of seven Liberal MPs who this month travelled to Israel to witness first-hand the ongoing war in the Middle East.

“I watched the 47 mins of footage … it showed victims being beheaded with hoes and having their heads cut off with serrated edged kitchen knives, it showed murderers blowing up children in their own homes,” she said.

Ms Heath also accused the Greens of actively supporting terrorism and inciting violence.

“Let me tell you, Islamic extremism and the modern left is an unholy alliance built on deception and violence. And the action that I seek from the Premier is for her to tell us what she is going to do to stamp out this violent, and un-Australian behaviour.”

Manager of Opposition Business, James Newbury, also travelled to Israel.

He said a reference would be made to the parliament’s Legal and Social Issues Standing Committee to establish a formal inquiry into anti-Semitism.

It would consider state government inaction to strengthen anti‑vilification laws, and police data that showed a surge in anti-Semitic attacks since October.

It would also examine the need for greater legal protections against doxing of Jews, and the need for stronger move-on laws.

“Premier Jacinta Allan needs to show leadership and allow an inquiry into the alarming and increasingly violent increase of antisemitism in Victoria,” Mr Newbury said.

“The safety and equal treatment of the Jewish community should be an issue which unites the Parliament, however so far, we’ve seen qualified statements from the Allan Labor Government and an inability to call out antisemitism without false equivalents.”

Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich slammed the vandalism of Mr Burns’ office.

“Another day, another sickening and evil act of anti-Semitic vandalism, this time targeting a federal member of parliament because he is Jewish and a supporter of Israel,” he said.

“The vile stampede of anti-Israel defacement that has defiled our city is reaching pitch fever and is undermining our sense of security.

“Melbourne is fast becoming the anti-Israel capital of Australia as these homegrown radicals run wild, spreading their dangerous agenda, and changing what was once a tolerant place into a cesspool of ugly propaganda.

“The freedom to protest does not give anyone license to act violently and to commit such crimes, and we stand firmly with Josh Burns during this difficult time.”

Police outside the office of federal MP Josh Burns. Picture: David Crosling

Two Victorian MPs say the blaze outside Josh Burns’ office should be treated as an act of terrorism.

Libertarian MP David Limbrick also accused the Greens of being responsible for the social unrest on the streets of Melbourne.

“The Greens might not have been setting things alight, but they have certainly been fanning the flames of social division,” he said.

“It is particularly disgusting to see an arson attack against a member of parliament due to his beliefs. This shows a callous disregard for human life, as the fire could have easily spread to nearby dwellings.”

Mr Limbrick said it is difficult to imagine that the could be called “anything other than a terror attack”.

“I hope that the AFP treat this with the utmost seriousness,” he said.

Independent MP Moira Deeming said: “Violence for political gain is the textbook definition of terrorism and we can never let it get a foothold in Australia.”

Zionist Federation of Australia chief Alon Cassuto deemed the attack “outrageous political violence” and said it should be treated as a wake-up call because Australians were being put in danger.

Mr Cassuto said it was not acceptable for any politician and must be called out when a Jewish person like Mr Burns was targeted.

“These actions are an attack on the Jewish community, and the fundamentally Australian and liberal values of tolerance and mutual respect,” he said.

“Extremist rhetoric and outrageous conspiracy theories are powering political violence.

“It must stop now — it is putting all Australians in danger.”

The vandalism has been widely slammed. Picture: David Crosling

Premier Jacinta Allan said a difference of opinion should never bring “violence and destruction” to the streets of Melbourne.

“It is simply unacceptable to vandalise, to destroy property in this way,” she said.

“It’s even more unacceptable when you think there are people who live above Josh Burns’ office. Their personal safety is put at risk by this violent and destructive behaviour.

“I absolutely and utterly condemn this behaviour.”

Greens leader Ellen Sandell said the minor party, who have been accused by both sides of politics of inciting and promoting pro-Palestine protests, didn’t condone the attack on Mr Burns’ office.

“We have maintained all along that any form of violence or property damage should not have a place,” she said.

Asked whether the Greens should take the heat out of the divisive debate and call for calm, Ms Sandell said the state government sparked the conversation locally.

“It was the Victorian Labor government who in October 17 moved a motion to say this parliament stands with Israel. They made an active choice to do this,” she said.

“All we’ve done is stand with the community in their time of deep grief and deep concern about atrocities that are happening in Gaza – over 37,000 people killed and injured, tens of thousands of innocent children killed by the Israeli military.”

Ms Sandell said the Greens were representing the “incredible amount of concern in the community”.

“Let’s not distract from the fact that our governments, federally and here in Victoria, are supporting the Israeli Ministry of Defence with a secret MOU here and giving material support to Israeli weapon manufacturers,” she said.

Premier Jacinta Allan has condemned the behaviour. Picture: David Crosling

St Kilda local Ron Shugg said the vandalism only divided the nation further.

“I don’t like it, I hate it, Australia is a multinational country and this is quite terrible,” he said.

“I don’t care what’s happening overseas, it’s important, I know it is, but not to bring it here.

“Don’t create criminal damage and things like that, there’s absolutely no point, it’s quite disgusting.

“I think it polarises people more, that’s the issue.”

Mr Burns’ office is the latest to be targeted by pro-Palestine activists across Melbourne and Australia.

The attacks have stirred political controversy with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accusing the Greens of “deliberately and consciously” spreading misinformation about the war in Gaza and demanding they condemn protests against parliamentarians offices.

Mr Albanese has also noted Greens members have taken part in demonstrations outside Labor MP offices.

The Niddrie office of Victorian Deputy Premier Ben Carroll and Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus office was hit last month.

Video of the attack on Mr Carroll’s office emerged online, showing the offenders spraying the building with red paint and tagging it with the words “blood on your hands”.

Anyone who witnessed Wednesday’s incident or with footage is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au.