‘Weak leadership, law enforcement failures’ behind anti-Semitism: Peter Dutton
Peter Dutton has described anti-Semitism as a threat not only to Jews, but ‘to the Australian achievement and to our democratic way of life’.
Peter Dutton has blamed “weak leadership”, “weasel words” and law enforcement failures for the magnitude and intensity of anti-Semitism that has emerged in Australia since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7.
Addressing the congregation at Melbourne’s St Kilda Shule on Friday – ahead of the Jewish festival of Passover next week – the Opposition Leader described anti-Semitism as a threat not only to Jews but also “to the Australian achievement and to our democratic way of life”, and promised a “zero tolerance” approach from the Coalition.
“The laws need to be enforced readily – not reluctantly – against those inciting hatred and violence,” Mr Dutton said, declaring that had the law enforcement response “been stronger” and had political leadership “been provided” in the wake of the anti-Semitic protest at the Sydney Opera House in the days following October 7, “it may have prevented subsequent incidents”.
Referring to violent clashes after anti-Israel protesters gathered in the Melbourne Jewish heartland of Caulfield in November, and the storming by protesters later that month of the foyer of Melbourne’s Crowne Plaza hotel, where the families of Israeli hostages were staying, Mr Dutton called for “solid, strong and predictable, and unwavering leadership”.
“We need to make sure that the message against anti-Semitism is heard from every level of the government, not clouded by instances of moral equivalence and moral ambiguity,” he said.
“The result has been a national moral fog which has regrettably made anti-Semitism permissible. The Coalition again will continue to speak up with moral courage and moral clarity to clear that moral fog.”
Condemning Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s recent comments indicating the government was prepared to recognise a Palestinian state, Mr Dutton said Hamas’s barbarity on October 7 had “set back the goal of a two-state solution”.
“Until Hamas is defeated, a two-state solution isn’t even conceivable because Hamas will always pose an existential threat to the state of Israel,” he said. “That’s why I characterised the Foreign Minister’s remarks as utterly illogical, as ill-timed and inappropriate.
Mr Dutton said it was also important that Australia “unambiguously denounce” Iran’s military attack on Israel and the regime’s sponsorship of terrorist groups.
This is not a time for weasel words,” he said.
“This is not a time to try and walk both sides of the street. The Coalition stands with our ally and our friend Israel.”
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