Bondi attack caused by 'cascading hate' left unchecked, say critics urging antisemitism plan be adopted

A report that has sat on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's desk for months is being raised by critics as key evidence that the federal government has done too little, too late to respond to the rising tide of antisemitism since the October 7 terror attack in Israel.

Mr Albanese hand-picked Jillian Segal in 2024 to develop a plan to combat antisemitism, and she delivered the plan standing alongside the prime minister and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke in July.

The review, which makes sweeping recommendations that would have consequences for police, universities, media outlets, arts institutions and the wider Australian culture, has not been formally responded to.

Jewish leaders say that plan could have helped put a stop to a "permissive" culture of antisemitism.

Speaking on Monday afternoon, Mr Albanese said his government had acted "and will continue to act on the implementation of the plan".

Mr Albanese pointed to his government's strengthening of hate speech laws and a ban on Nazi and other hate symbols, the creation of a national student ombudsman to address antisemitism on campuses, and its support of Ms Segal's work on a "university report card" assessing responses to antisemitism.

The prime minister said the government had also enhanced social cohesion programs, provided funding for enhanced security at Jewish institutions, and was reviewing training for migration officials screening applicants for hateful views and conduct.

But in the wake of Sunday's massacre in Bondi, where a father and son murdered more than a dozen people at a Hanukkah event at the popular tourist destination, Jewish leaders are asking why many opportunities to act more fiercely against antisemitism were not taken up.

On Tuesday, Ms Segal told Sky News the prime minister needs to clarify whether he intends to fully implement the plan.

"I am looking to the government to make a statement about the implementation of that plan. Although there has been progress behind the scenes, I think that now the community is sufficiently concerned and anxious about this that there should be a formal statement about the implementation," Ms Segal said.

"Of course the report could have been acted on further and faster, but that doesn't mean that opportunity is lost."

Protests, synagogue attacks, doxxing named as missed chances to stop hate

Since October 2023, Australia has witnessed mass protests against Israel's war in Gaza.

There also have been arson attacks at synagogues, the homes of Jewish leaders have been targeted, Jewish people have been "doxxed", businesses have been boycotted, and Jewish schools and property have been targeted by vandals. 

The antisemitism envoy has pointed to a protest at the Sydney Opera House on October 9, 2023, in the aftermath of the Hamas terror attack, and a mass demonstration across the Sydney Harbour Bridge against the war in Gaza earlier this year, as high-profile moments where government messaging was insufficient.

In February, Australia's spy chief Mike Burgess identified antisemitism as the single greatest security threat Australia faced.

And the envoy has identified a 300 per cent increase in antisemitic incidents in Australia since the October 7 terror attack by Hamas.

Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg said inaction across successive antisemitic incidents in the past two and a half years had led to a "cascading environment of hate".

He said political and civil leaders had not done enough, including on Ms Segal's report.

"It has sat on [the prime minister's] desk. If that is not a metaphor for the failure of government to act with the urgency that we need, I don't know what is," Mr Frydenberg told the ABC.

"I listened to the prime minister tell the Holocaust survivors … that, in his own words, he would not allow antisemitism to get a foothold in Australia. Well, what a failure that has been.

"Everything must change, everything must be on the table. The government and the opposition must come together on the advice of security agencies and with the input from  the Jewish community.

Speaking from Bondi Beach this morning after returning from Israel, its ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said he had given warnings that previous antisemitic incidents would lead to worse violence.

"[It is] what one can expect when it is painted all over Australia on synagogues, buildings, public buildings, calling for the death of Israel, death to the IDF, and then cars are put on fire," he said.

"I hope that tomorrow would be better than yesterday. I hope that all necessary measures would be taken in order to make sure that the life of the Australians of Jewish faith would be secure."

Labor MP Josh Burns says the government must take accountability for the Bondi massacre.

He said on Monday that the targeting of Jewish people had been minimised in some institutions, and "especially on the progressive side of politics" that issue must be confronted.

Antisemitism plan's implications for free speech

The Coalition and Ms Segal herself have demanded the government fully endorse the antisemitism plan.

Ms Segal's plan was received with some trepidation by parts of the community when it was delivered in July, in part because of the significant implications it could have for free speech in Australia.

While Ms Segal has not suggested the recommendations she put forward would directly have prevented the Bondi massacre, Jewish community leaders say excuse-making by political and civil leaders has minimised antisemitism and led to a "permissive" culture.

A senior community source familiar with the envoy's antisemitism plan said it would be critical for the government to endorse it and "draw a line in the sand".

"If you don't, this is what happens," they said.

Key recommendations from Jillian Segal's antisemitism plan

The source said they expected the envoy to begin drawing up specific action plans, likely broken down by department, to guide the government in the next steps of its response.

Privately, conversations have also begun on the issue of migration.

The Coalition is yet to release its migration policy review, but it has already flagged it will push for stronger "values tests" for people seeking to enter Australia.

Andrew Hastie, who was shadow home affairs minister until quitting in protest to his party's approach to the issue, posted on social media overnight that he would be fighting for tougher migration laws.

"What we really need to talk about is immigration, is citizenship, is education. We need to talk about Australian values and what we want our country to look like," Mr Hastie said.

"This is a really clear time where we need to differentiate between those who love Australia, our people, our values and those who hate us.

"The time is right now."

But for the next week at least, Jewish groups say they will still be mourning the loss at Bondi.

Ms Segal said the government could leave no doubt that it would respond with a "full-throttle" approach.

"It can't do this in a half-hearted fashion," she said on Monday.

Mr Albanese has committed to extending funding for security to protect Jewish institutions.

The prime minister also proposed tougher gun laws, including limits to how many guns an individual could own, in the wake of the attack.