Anthony Albanese's government is facing increasing scrutiny for its handling of the rising tide of anti-Semitism in Australia. While the government has implemented measures to combat the issue, critics argue that a lack of empathy and decisive action is undermining efforts to effectively address the problem.
Anthony Albanese highlighted the various measures his government has implemented to combat anti-Semitism. However, he struggles to escape the perception of constantly being on the defensive and often lacking adequate empathy and sensitivity when addressing the issue. Consider Australia 's representation at next week's commemoration in Poland marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
This is a significant global event, with King Charles and several world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, in attendance. Alex Ryvchin, the co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, has spoken about the series of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney, particularly in the eastern suburbs where a large Jewish population resides. These incidents have generated widespread community outrage and a strong police response. The Australian government is sending two cabinet ministers: Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus. Mr. Dreyfus, being the most senior Jewish member of the government, is a natural choice. However, Ms. Wong's inclusion is controversial. She is viewed unfavorably by many within the Australian Jewish community who, frankly, perceive her as lacking sympathy for Israel and holding excessive influence over the Prime Minister. Ms. Wong's trip to Poland is scheduled on her return journey from the Trump inauguration. While this might be convenient, it would have been more appropriate and strategic to select Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles to lead the Australian delegation to Poland. Mr. Marles commands significant respect within the Jewish community (and outranks Ms. Wong).A long-overdue meeting, which felt rushed and produced the underwhelming outcome of establishing a national database of anti-Semitic incidents, took place recently. The national cabinet responded to calls from various individuals, including the government's own special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, Jillian Segal – calls that should have been addressed sooner. Mr. Albanese had previously argued that people desired action rather than meetings and that he was consulting with the Premiers of NSW and Victoria, where the attacks have been concentrated. The delay in convening the national cabinet mirrored Mr. Albanese's previous reluctance last year to establish a specialized operations force led by the Australian Federal Police. Mr. Albanese once again found himself overshadowed this week by NSW Premier Chris Minns, during a joint press conference following the arson attack on a childcare center. Mr. Minns, who strongly condemned the perpetrators, calling them 'bastards,' appeared assertive; Mr. Albanese seemed less prominent, reinforcing the federal opposition's narrative of him as a 'weak' leader. Adding to the pressure on the government, Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel (who previously worked as a veterinary nurse in Bondi) issued fresh criticism this week, stating provocatively, 'What are they waiting for? For someone to die? For someone to be murdered?' The pressure extends beyond the government to encompass police (federal and state) and ASIO. Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw emphasized this week that the police are making progress and anticipate further successes in the near future. The message seemed partly a plea for patience from the community, particularly the Jewish community. Mr. Kershaw revealed that the AFP believes 'criminals for hire' might be responsible for some incidents, adding, 'So part of our inquiries include: who is paying those criminals, where those people are — whether they are in Australia or offshore — and what their motivation is.' Despite this intriguing piece of information, the overall impression is that the agencies are largely in the dark about the intricacies behind this wave of anti-Semitism. There doesn't appear (so far) to be evidence of foreign actors, either state or non-state, or domestic extremist organizations being the driving force.For many voters, while they condemn the wave of anti-Semitism, it remains a relatively minor issue. However, it fuels broader, easily triggered concerns about crime and security, which benefits Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. The Australian Financial Review's latest Freshwater poll asked people to rank priority areas on which the government should focus. Crime and social order ranked fifth out of 16 issues; 26% of people placed it in their top three. Mr. Dutton has pledged that the Coalition would legislate for mandatory minimum sentences for anti-Semitic crimes
Anti-Semitism Australia Politics Government Jewish Community Crime Security
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