Andrew L. Urban
How can we reconcile the contradictory messages from PM Anthony Albanese when they collide over Israel and Jewish citizens in Australia? Of course, I refer to the two years of public antagonism towards Israel and domestic inaction against aggressive, violent antisemites since October 7, 2023, with the pro-forma statement condemning the terror attacks on the Jewish community at Bondi Beach on Sunday December 14, 2025.
Well we can’t. What he says is contradicted by what he has done. An example of two-way Albo …
Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have conducted what amounts to a campaign of political against Israel, to the extent of recognising the non-existent state of Palestine, as if willing it into existence even while a very real and battered Israel is fighting for its existence. That clearly anti-Israel act, in September 2025, was preceded by such lack of action against ugly and violent antisemitic demonstrations in Australia, that it can only be seen as complicity with evil.
The Bondi Beach attack completes the trio of terror at iconic Australian locations, after the large hate-fuelled demonstration at the Sydney Opera House on October 8, 2023 and the even larger “pro-Palestinian” anti-Israel march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on August 3, 2025. And Albanese did what? And again at the press conference early on Monday morning, given his track record, his statement condemning the terrorism seemed hollow and forced. His delivery, in contrast to that of NSW Premier Chris Minns, was underwhelming, as if he were announcing details of a traffic accident. (It didn’t help that his first reference was to what sounded like “anysemiticism” …)
The Albanese government has been pandering to the Muslim community as a vote-securing exercise. That is not moral integrity. But it may not work out. Could it be that the broader community in sympathy with and supportive of the Jewish cohort in Australia is somewhat larger than those who support Muslims at large. According to the 2021 Census, there are over 310,000 Muslims in Australia and about 117,000 Jews. Will that numerical superiority be overtaken, supercharged by the revulsion generated by this latest terror attack against Jews?
How does the accumulation of violent antisemitic demonstrations and this mass killing play into a reconsideration of multicultural immigration policies? Is it too late? Will any political party take responsibility? Certainly don’t expect it from Albanese’s Labor.
This Labor government’s attitude to antisemitic terrorism was put to shame on Sunday by the local fruit shop owner who jumped on one of the shooters and disarmed him. He didn’t have to say anything.