Labor ‘not selective’ on human rights, says Anthony Albanese in attack on Peter Dutton

Anthony Albanese has confronted head-on allegations he has failed to tackle anti-Semitism, declaring he stands with the nation’s Jewish community and also with Australian Muslims.

Anthony Albanese in question time on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Anthony Albanese has confronted head-on allegations that he has failed to tackle anti-Semitism following the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, declaring he stands with the nation’s Jewish community and also with Australian Muslims, including women threatened for “wearing hijabs in the streets”.

In an impassioned speech to parliament, the Prime Minister hit back at claims by Peter Dutton that the government had allowed community disharmony to fester by “speaking out of both sides of its mouth” since the terrorist attack.

He accused the Opposition Leader of “weaponising” anti-Semitism, branding his conduct as “beyond contempt”.

“Jewish Australians … are fearful at the moment. The sort of activity that is occurring is scaring them and I stand with them,” Mr Albanese said.

“But it is also the case that Arab Australians and Islamic Australians and women wearing hijabs in the streets of Sydney and Melbourne are being threatened, and I stand against that as well.

“The idea of selective human rights is one that I stand against.

“So I’m opposed to any innocent life being lost.”

After violent anti-Jewish protests in Melbourne and Sydney, Mr Dutton accused Mr Albanese of failing “to show the strong leadership required to overcome divisions within his own caucus, to stamp out anti-Semitism and bring our country together”.

“This Prime Minister had a solemn duty, Mr Speaker, to stand up and to make sure that his government spoke with one voice,” the Liberal leader told parliament.

“And what the Australian public has seen and what has shocked the Jewish community in recent weeks since 7 October is that this government is speaking out of both sides of its mouth.

“There are Jewish kids who are afraid to go to school. We got groups who are going into predominantly Jewish communities in our country to try to provoke them into a response.”

Mr Dutton linked the domestic fallout from the October 7 attack by Hamas to community concern over the government’s forced release of 83 detainees including murderers, rapists and pedophiles from immigration detention following a High Court decision.

He also criticised Mr Albanese’s decision to head to the APEC summit in San Francisco on Wednesday, accusing him of “flying off overseas again when he should be staying in this country to deal with the issue”. Mr Dutton called on Mr Albanese to remain in Australia to convene a national cabinet meeting, to address rising anti-Semitism together with premiers and chief ministers.

Mr Albanese pointed to his defence of section 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act which makes it unlawful to “offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate”.

The Coalition wanted to axe the law in the face of Jewish community opposition. He also highlighted his two decade-long campaign against the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, championed by a local council in his electorate.

“I have a track record on this and I’m proud of it. But I also have a track record of standing up for the rights and for justice of Palestinian people,” Mr Albanese said.

“And I make no apologies for being a consistent supporter of a two-state solution.

“And I make no apologies for trying to bring communities together, not divide them. Because that’s the role of political leaders.”

Mr Albanese said every Australian prime minister since Paul Keating had attended APEC, except for one occasion when Julia Gillard was forced to return home early due to a family tragedy.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin welcomed the contributions of both leaders.

“The gravity of soaring anti-Semitism and the dangerous progression from sermons and chants to violence, vandalism and targeting of Jewish schools and neighbourhoods, warrants urgent action,” he said.

“We deeply appreciate the Opposition Leader’s impassioned stand against anti-Semitism and the Prime Minister’s consistent and clear position in support of our community. We hope this bipartisan support continues in the difficult weeks and months ahead, and results in meaningful action to defeat anti-Semitism before things spiral out of control.”