Ice hockey world championships canned in Victoria in fears of anti-Israel protests ‘unfortunate’, PM says

Anthony Albanese says Australia can continue to be a host for global sporting events, despite Ice Hockey’s fears of anti-Israel protests, and says he is committed to stamping out anti-Semitism.

Pro-Palestine protesters marching along Lonsdale St in Melbourne. Picture: NewsWire/Luis Enrique Ascui

Ice Hockey Australia’s moves to abandon world championship matches in Melbourne over fears Israel’s presence is a safety risk is an “unfortunate decision”, Anthony Albanese says.

In a “strictly confidential” email obtained by The Australian, IHA president and director Ryan O’Handley advised the International Ice Hockey Federation’s executive body on December 30 that the World Men’s Division II (Group A) championships would be canned due to safety and security concerns associated with Israel’s participation.

The event, originally scheduled for April-May, was expected to be a landmark occasion for Australian sports, marking the first time since 2011 this country would host the division championships.

While the Coalition has called the Ice Hockey move a mark of how badly the Albanese government has handled growing anti-Semitism in Australia, the Prime Minister dismissed ice hockey as a sport most Australians are unfamiliar with.

He also said that Australia can continue be a host for global sporting events and that his government was committed to stamping out anti-Semitism.

“Of course we can. We’ve just hosted a wonderful cricket Test series and you were just commenting in the sports section there about the upcoming Australian Open and … Australia can host wonderful sporting events and we should,” Mr Albanese told the Nine Network on Tuesday.

“This is a decision made by Ice Hockey Australia.

“They’re not a body I’ve got to say I’m familiar with, and it’s not a sport I’m familiar with like most Australians, I think.

“But we should be opposed and are as a country to any form of racism, but particularly to anti-Semitism. And we are a tolerant country that have got to have respect for every person, regardless of their faith, regardless of their ethnicity, just to respect people for who they are. And this is an unfortunate decision.”

At this stage, there has been no official announcement from the IIHF or the Australian federation.

Victoria Police said it had provided feedback about current protest activity in Melbourne, but any decision to cancel the event “was one for Ice Hockey Australia”.

“We understand that people are concerned following the synagogue fire in Ripponlea on 6 December; however, there are currently no known or specific threats to any Victorian organisation, infrastructure or event, and police encourage people to go about their daily business,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

But in his email, Mr O’Handley claimed concerns over Israel’s participation were first raised in October when Victoria Police warned IHA of a “high chance of an incident” during the championship.

“By the end of October, the venue and the District Docklands precinct also expressed their concerns to us regarding the safety and security of the event. This prompted us to begin correspondence with the IIHF regarding these concerns and the escalating anti-Israel activities in Melbourne,” Mr O’Handley wrote in the email.

“Then, as you are all likely aware, there was an arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne on December 6th. Subsequent discussions with the venue and precinct occurred, along with a thorough risk assessment and consideration of all of our options. It was concluded just prior to Christmas that we could not host due to significant safety and security risks associated with Israel’s participation.”

The Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea. Picture: Ian Currie

Mr O’Handley said the decision to dump the championships was not politically motivated.

“Our decision is based entirely on the fact that the safety and security of participants, the venue and precinct staff, and the general public cannot be assured to a reasonable level due to the current environment in Melbourne,” he said.

“It is my understanding that they will offer the hosting rights to another country in our division in the first instance and they have not suggested we will be sanctioned in any way.”

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said anti-Semitism was left to fester in the streets of Melbourne, accusing both the Albanese Labor government and Premier Jacinta Allan’s leadership of “disastrous” consequences for the nation’s international reputation.

“The Albanese and Allan governments have let anti-Semitism get completely out of control and this is the result,” Senator Paterson said.

“It is absolutely disastrous for our international reputation that we can’t safely host international sporting events due to a failure to tackle rampant extremism since 7 October.

“This is yet another wake-up call that it is past time to enforce the law and take this community safety crisis seriously before it gets even worse.”

In a statement sent to The Australian, a spokesperson for IHA confirmed “significant consultations” were made with important stakeholders.

“Ice Hockey Australia holds the health and safety of participants, spectators and the wider community (as) an absolute priority,” the spokesperson said.

“Significant consultation took place with varied and relevant important stakeholders related to the Men’s Division IIA World Championships, including the International Ice Hockey Federation.”

A Victorian government spokesperson said the event was not funded by the taxpayer, and the decision to cancel it was made by the organisation, and was not made on advice from police.

Ice Hockey Australia has abandoned holding world championship matches in Melbourne over fears linked to Israel’s presence. Picture: Instagram

The nation’s peak Jewish body labelled the cancellation a “dreadful” and “dangerous” capitulation, and called for the state and federal sport ministers to intervene.

“This is a dreadful decision and should be rescinded,” Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said.

“It cannot be that violent extremists dictate which visiting sporting teams come to our country and deprive Australians of the joy of watching live international sports.

“They are playing directly into the hands of thugs and racists who have calculated that their violence and threats will lead to Israelis being abandoned and cut adrift.

“We urge the governing body to reconsider its position and expect that the Minister for Sport will intervene to ensure this dangerous capitulation does not stand.”

Australia last hosted the division championships in 2011 and won gold with a team featuring history-making NHL star Nathan Walker.

Israel’s expected opponents in the games would have included Australia, Belgium, Serbia, the Netherlands and the UAE.