Anti-Semitic attacks target ‘bedrock of Western civilisation’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese failed his leadership test on October 9, 2023.

It was a day of infamy on the steps of the Opera House.

The Prime Minister had the opportunity to lead, to show moral clarity, to call a meeting of cabinet’s National Security Committee (as recommended by Peter Dutton), to declare unequivocal support for Israel (as Bob Hawke would have done), to stand side by side with Australia’s Jewish community, and to throw the metaphorical book at the anti-Semitic chanters.

He did none of the above. And he has been totally ineffectual on the issue since.

That Albanese’s delegates to the 80th anniversary event marking the liberation of Auschwitz, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, were among those who heard the political dressing down by the president of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, for the lack of action shown by many nations is a powerful message.

As Lauder says, anti-Semitic attacks are not just targeting Jews, “they are an attack on Judeo-Christian values, which are the bedrock of Western civilisation”. Bravo.

Mandy Macmillan, Singleton, NSW

The special mention of anti-Semitism, now so prevalent in Australian society, by Ronald Lauder, the president of the World Jewish Congress, at the 80th commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz in front of world leaders must represent a low-water mark in Australia’s global reputation (“A wall of silence led to Auschwitz: This must never happen again”, 28/1).

It stands in stark contrast to the previous reputation of Australia as a freedom-loving, tolerant, egalitarian society.

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic

Anthony Albanese’s recently announced “multimillion-dollar commitment to battle anti-Semitism”, after denying it along with our Foreign Minister Penny Wong for the past 15 months, is a cynical insult to Australian Jews and all Australians.

It fails to pass the most basic “pub test” along with the government’s insensitivity in sending Penny Wong, who has not been supportive of Israel, to represent Australia at Auschwitz. When she now calls for “a united front against anti-Semitism”, it is a galling reminder of the times the Australian government has failed our democratic allies, urging “restraint” from Israel after the invasion of their country, the butchery of over 1200 civilians and the capture of 240 brutalised civilian hostages by Hamas terrorists.

She has moved Australia to align against Israel in the United Nations, and the nation has continued to fund Hamas-backed United Nations Relief and Works Agency, with Australian taxpayer money. This dysfunctional Albanese government has ignored, betrayed and failed to listen to us.

Along with the freedom-loving voice opponents, the “quiet” Australians, all Australians are waiting to make our voices heard at the ballot box.

Mary-Anne Higgins, Rose Park, SA

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, attending the 80th commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, has said it “was an opportunity to stand together with representatives from around the world and say never again. The words of the Holocaust survivors will stay with me, always … I hope their message is heard around the world”.

Regardless of whether one views her words as hypocritical, the necessity of not allowing the memory of the millions of Jewish people murdered to fade needs to be expressed.

That the ABC, the nation’s broadcaster, has not seen fit to either attend this commemoration or report it in person, is deplorable, although perhaps not inexplicable. Perhaps in ABC land, it would have been considered Islamophobic to do so.

Deborah Morrison, Malvern East, Vic

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says she has been “moved” by her attendance at the Auschwitz commemoration.

That’s all very well, but now let’s see some action from the government to support the Jewish people the government failed to support on multiple occasions. The minister can show she is genuine by going to the UN and expressing Australia’s support for Israel.

John George, Terrigal, NSW