Josh Frydenberg calls for authoritarian countries and anti-democratic forces to be challenged

Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg will be awarded the Monash Medal, as he calls for authoritarianism abroad and anti-democratic forces at home to be confronted head-on.

Melbourne Rotary’s Peter Davis presents Josh Frydenberg with the Monash Medal at the Shrine of Remembrance. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

Josh Frydenberg has called for Australia to confront “head-on” authoritarian regimes abroad and defeat anti-democratic forces at home as the nation faces deep uncertainty fuelled by the Middle East crisis.

The former treasurer on Wednesday will be named the recipient of a leadership award named after Sir John Monash, arguably Australia’s most significant military leader, and will use the honour to highlight the defence and governance hurdles facing society.

Mr Frydenberg said being awarded the Monash Medal – whose recipients include former High Court judge Michael Kirby and Major General Jim Barry – was an honour that recognised the work of Sir John Monash.

“It is an enormous honour to receive the Monash Medal, particularly at this time,’’ he said.

“Sir John Monash is our greatest citizen-soldier, whose strength, ingenuity and leadership on the battlefield helped secure the freedoms we now enjoy, freedoms that are now under threat from authoritarian regimes abroad and anti-democratic forces at home that must be confronted head-on.

“His contribution not just in war but in peace is an inspiration.

“A proud Australian and a proud Jew who never saw a conflict between his faith and his citizenship, his personal story is a timely reminder of the very best of Australia.’’

Mr Frydenberg will receive the award from Rotary Melbourne, the club Sir John helped set up.

Since the October 7 Hamas atrocities, Mr Frydenberg has campaigned vigorously for Israel and the Australian Jewish community, railing against the rising tide of anti-Semitism.

His strident comments come as Australia has raised the terrorism threat from possible to probable amid concerns of rising polarisation post-Covid and during the Hamas-Israel war.

Officials are concerned the Middle East could erupt if Iran strikes Israel or Israel strikes Lebanon after a months-long bombing and military campaign in Gaza.

There is a strong fear the conflict will escalate and the effects spill into Australia amid significant global uncertainty.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said some Australians had been adopting more extreme ideologies.

The Monash Medal is awarded to leaders who have made an outstanding contribution to the Australian and global communities.

Its criteria include leadership, integrity and services with values shared by Sir John, who died in 1931 aged 66.

He was born in 1865 to German-Polish Jewish parents. During World War I, he came under fire at Gallipoli in 1915 and by 1918 was in charge of the Australian Corps.

In his Sky News documentary investigating the impact of anti-Semitism, Mr Frydenberg asked Sir Peter Cosgrove – a former governor-general and decorated soldier – what he thought Sir John would be feeling today.

“I think Sir John would say this is not the Australia that we fought for in the war to end all wars,’’ Sir Peter said.

“He’d be very sad that there is such an outbreak of violence in the Middle East. But here in Australia, he would be aghast.’’