‘I’ve called it out at each and every opportunity’: Albanese defends antisemtism record

Anthony Albanese has stood by his record on anti-semtism as Sydney is rocked by yet another Synagogue attack.

Anthony Albanese has defended his record on antisemitism, saying his government did “what we can” to curb growing discrimination against Jewish Australians.

In a passionate interview after a year where his handling of the domestic fallout from the war in Gaza has been under the microscope, Mr Albanese listed off his anti-racism credentials for Australians to judge.

“My entire life, I have been engaged in anti-racism campaigns,” he told The Sunday Telegraph.

“From the time I was a student and helped establish Students Against Racism at Sydney University where James Saleam the leader of National Action brought (far right extremists) literally and overtly … onto campus campaigning against Asian students and Jewish students.

Anthony Albanese has defended his record on antisemtism.

“(I led the campaign) against the Boycott Divestments and Sanctions campaign which was adopted by my local council … led to the overturning of that policy.”

Speaking on his record after the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, Mr Albanese said his government had consistently invested in protecting Jewish Australians.

“On October 7, we opposed what happened on Insiders (ABC) on Sunday. On Monday I called for the rally that was being held at the Opera House to not go ahead.

“We’ve set up the first envoy on anti-semitism … we’ve introduced anti-hate laws including outlawing Nazi symbols, we’ve set up a taskforce … I’ve called it out at each and every opportunity.”

Anthony Albanese during a visit of the Adass Israel Synagogue on December 10, 2024. Picture: Twitter

The Sunday Telegraph can also reveal it was Mr Albanese who personally instructed Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to grant permanent residencies to the rabbi at a Melbourne synagogue that was firebombed in December.

The family’s visa plight was first raised with the Prime Minister in the aftermath of the horrifying attack, with Mr Albanese asking Mr Burke to intervene.

The latest comments come as Sydney was rocked by two back-to-back incidents of antisemitic graffiti on synagogues in Newtown and Allawah.

Mr Albanese condemned both incidents, calling for the culprits to face “the full force of the law”.

Emergency services respond as a house fire burns in Ripponlea barely 50m from the Adass Israel Synagogue. Picture: Mark Stewart

Pressure has been mounting on Labor over its handling of the Gaza crisis with both sides of the conflict demanding stronger action.

On Friday, pro-Palestine Labor members demanded the government clarify why Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is visiting Israel, raising “deep concerns” about the trip.

Labor Friends of Palestine condemned the Israeli government for “war crimes” and “genocide” and said any comments made by Mr Dreyfus should be “consistent with international law”, which sees Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a criminal.

In a passionate statement, the group demanded Mr Dreyfus — who is of Jewish faith — demand the “immediate recognition of the State of Palestine in line with official ALP policy”.

A spokesman for Mr Dreyfus said “further details will be released in due course”.

“The Attorney-General has rescheduled his October 2024 visit to Israel which had to be cancelled,” the spokesman said.

Originally published as ‘I’ve called it out at each and every opportunity’: Albanese defends antisemtism record