Humbled Albanese shifts gear as Jewish community's anger builds

This was a humbled prime minister, confronting three days of Jewish community anger.

Standing alongside his ministers, the federal police commissioner and his antisemitism envoy, this was a prime minister showing contrition, some regret and an acknowledgement more could have been done.

Not an apology, to be sure, but a greater show of fallibility than we have previously seen from Anthony Albanese, even after the Voice referendum defeat.

With the Jewish community's anger showing no sign of easing, and powerfully channelled by John Howard and Josh Frydenberg, Albanese had to shift gear.

PM makes clear he has heard the cry

The prime ministerial reaction in the first few days after the Bondi terrorist atrocity wasn't enough. Empathy, swift action on gun laws and appeals for national unity and healing were all important.

Ultimately, though, the prime minister needed to let the nation know he had heard the loudest cry from the Jewish community — for more action to stamp out antisemitism.

Defensively listing steps already taken was never going to cut it. Not after what the nation witnessed on Sunday.

The prime minister hasn't gone as far as Frydenberg and others would like. He's not accepting personal responsibility for the Bondi atrocity. He's not announcing a royal commission or any other form of inquiry that might look at his government's actions to date on antisemitism.

But he has acknowledged more could have been done. He's admitted he's not perfect. And the prime minister has reflected on his government's imperfect response to antisemitism over the past two years: "Anyone in this position would regret not doing more."

The statements of contrition were all general. They avoided any specific admission of failure. But for Albanese, this is still significant. He's not from the political school of mea culpas, made famous by former Queensland premier Peter Beattie.

Whether it's enough contrition, remains to be seen.

A genuine increase in action

This pivot should also be treated seriously because it involves a genuine step-up of action. Tougher hate speech legislation is being drafted, including provisions the Jewish community has demanded. The new laws will likely capture the Islamist extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir.

The home affairs minister will have stronger powers to deny and cancel visas for those spreading antisemitic hate.

David Gonski (of Gonski school funding review fame) will lead a taskforce to ensure all students are learning about the scourge of antisemitism.

Importantly, the prime minister is flagging this won't be the end. More action is likely.

Albanese has been notably absent from the funerals of those killed at Bondi, despite his offers to attend and his private conversations with families. His Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was booed when he visited the site to pay his respects. The anger towards the government is clear.

As many have noted this week, moments like this can either make or break a prime minister. Anthony Albanese is trying to ensure it's not the latter.

David Speers is national political lead and host of Insiders, which airs on ABC TV at 9am on Sunday or on iview.