Here’s six policies the PM should implement, starting today
The answer coming from his joint press conference with NSW Premier Chris Minns on Monday morning is worrying. Minns spoke with clarity. When asked if he would make changes to NSW gun laws, he said: “The short answer is yes, we’re looking at that right now … I won’t hesitate to move legislation if it’s required.”
When Albanese was asked do we need a gun crackdown like John Howard carried out after Port Arthur, he answered: “We will look at whatever is necessary, whatever comes out of this investigation. If there is any action required in terms of legislative response, we will certainly have it.”
There you have the contrast: Minns will lead his own reforms whereas Albanese will “look at” the results of an investigation that will take years. In time we will learn more about the precise motives of the perpetrators but, for rapid policy action, it is enough to know that the police and our political leaders have publicly said that the Bondi attack was anti-Semitic terrorism.
Here is what the Prime Minister should do, starting today.
He should recall parliament and hold an urgent debate giving every member of the House of Representatives and the Senate the opportunity to go on the record about where they stand on the security of Jews in Australia.
We don’t elect our political leaders to wait for police reports. We have a right to expect that the government and the parliament have the brains to express their own views about destroying anti-Semitism.
Second, Albanese should convene the national security committee of cabinet to consider the report of the special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, Jillian Segel, publicly released five months ago on July 10. The report sets out a sensible plan to protect the Australian Jewish community. It is mystifying that the government has not already implemented it in full while Albanese and his ministers refuse to answer questions about it. Cabinet should formally endorse Segal’s report and Albanese should direct every minister to report out how they will achieve its objectives within their portfolios.
Third, the government should immediately put on hold any moves to support their recognition of the state of Palestine. Recognition was premature given that none of the ruling parties in Israel, Gaza or the West Bank endorse a two-state solution.
The Albanese government was rightly criticised for rewarding terrorism by offering recognition after the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.
Putting on hold any moves to recognise a state of Palestine would deliver a message to the pro-Palestinian movement in Australia that the government will not deliver their policy demands while the risk of terrorism against Australian Jews is at an all-time high.
My fourth proposal is that commonwealth and state governments should use their existing legal powers to temporarily ban all pro-Palestinian protests in our cities. The same rule should apply to the odious Nazi groups.
The protesters have had ample opportunity to promote their views. The reality is that protests of the left and right political extremes has enabled anti-Semitism to take root more broadly in Australian society.
Australian Jews and many others are intimidated. Our streets are being overtaken by a culture of violence where fringe elements have more scope to cultivate extremist views that enable and justify terrorism.
The protests must stop at least until stronger protections for Jews are in place. Government must manage citizen’s rights to free speech in ways that look after the interests of regular Australians rather than giving open slather to extremists.
Policy suggestion number five is that the government urgently reviews all visas that have been extended to individuals coming from Gaza since October 2023.
This is not to speculate about whether the Bondi attackers were motivated by the situation in Gaza. The more urgent need is to reduce the risk of further terrorism.
The government has not addressed the adequacy of security clearances for individuals coming from Gaza. Until such time as this happens Australians will not feel assured that appropriate security measures were taken.
Sixth, the national terrorism threat level system must be redesigned. On Sunday night ASIO Head Mike Burgess said: “The national terrorism threat level remains at probable. I don’t see that changing at this stage. Probable means there is a 50 per cent chance of an act of terror.”
In fact, the government’s Australian National Security website says that the probable threat level means that “there is a greater than 50 per cent chance of an onshore attack or attack planning in the next 12 months.”
Raising the threat level to “expected” means that “the government has concerns of a specific threat”. But we seldom have prior indication of a specific threat. There was no warning time on Sunday. The wording of the current threat level system needs to be revised. There is a clear need for Australia to be on higher alert right now.
Finally, Australia risks losing significant numbers of its Jewish citizens because they will elect to move to Israel. I know some Australians who have already done this, and others that are considering their position.
The Prime Minister should personally make the case to Australian Jews why they shouldn’t give up on their own country.
Just as John Howard lifted his standing through his courageous response to the Port Arthur massacre, Anthony Albanese now faces his own defining leadership moment.
He should cancel his Christmas leave and set out to defeat the anti-Semitism problem with drive and leadership.
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