Special Envoy Jillian Segal urges stronger government action against escalating antisemitic attacks across Australia.
Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism Jillian Segal has issued a fervent plea for the Albanese government to adopt a more robust stance against the escalating tide of antisemitic attacks plaguing the nation. Her appeal, following her appointment by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to advise on antisemitism eradication strategies, transcends her official capacity as a direct government report. Ms. Segal has publicly urged both federal and state leaders to confront this pressing issue head-on.
The nation has witnessed a disturbing surge in incidents targeting Jewish communities in major cities like Melbourne and Sydney, encompassing vandalism, arson, and intimidation. Ms. Segal, in a compelling interview with Sky News, emphasized the gravity of the situation, urging officials to recognize the profound implications for Australia's future. She underscored the need for stricter sentencing, increased prosecutions, and a unified government response across all levels. 'We do need to consider these activities: harassing the Jewish people, infecting our community with hate and attacking places of worship in particular,' she stated. 'We've seen a number of prosecutions and we've seen those people being let off without any penalty whatsoever, not even a recorded criminal offence with no jail time.' Her impassioned words follow a series of high-profile antisemitic attacks, including the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue and vandalism of Jewish sites in Sydney. Recent months have seen Jewish businesses subjected to harassment, and synagogues across Sydney defaced with hateful graffiti. The Prime Minister's office has pledged continued support for affected communities, with Mr. Albanese convening a meeting with the Victorian and NSW Premiers in response to Ms. Segal's call. 'The Prime Minister emphasized to both the Premier of Victoria and Acting Premier of New South Wales that the Commonwealth stands ready to assist with whatever they require,' the Prime Minister's Office stated. A commitment was made by both state and federal governments to share information and resources to combat the escalating tide of hate crimes. The opposition has criticized the Albanese government's handling of the situation, demanding a national cabinet approach involving all states and territories. Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley echoed Ms. Segal's concerns, stating, 'What Jillian Segal is saying is that the response from the federal government and state governments with a patchwork of different laws … that's just not happening.' The federal government, while acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, points to recent measures like the ban on Nazi symbols and hate speech, as well as funding to enhance Jewish site security. 'We're doing what we are able to do at the federal level in terms of the AFP task force. We do have to respond unequivocally,' Foreign Minister Penny Wong asserted to the ABC
Antisemitism Australia Jillian Segal Albanese Government Hate Crimes Jewish Community National Security
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