“Hate can never be normalised, can never be excused or explained away,” she told reporters in east Melbourne.
The Liberal Party leader met with leaders of the Jewish community in east Melbourne following a spate of antisemitic attacks over the weekend. Source: AAP / Con Chronis
“It’s about education. It’s about the governance of our universities. It is about what happens in schools, and it is about social media, and it’s about national security responses,” Ley said.
In February, the ECAJ recommended the declaration of a national emergency, better coordination between agencies to fight antisemitic terror and improved training for law enforcement.
Education Minister Jason Clare has hinted at changes to the national curriculum, reiterating that Holocaust education was an important part of the existing school system.
Albanese responds to calls for National Cabinet on antisemitism
However, speaking 20 minutes before Ley, Albanese said the community doesn’t “want a meeting, they want action”.
There were a number of antisemitic incidents over the weekend in Melbourne, including the attempted arson of a synagogue. Source: AAP / James Ross
Albanese defended almost $60 million in funding to enhance security at Jewish schools and synagogues, stating it had been critical to the arrest of a 34-year-old male in relation to Friday’s attack.
The federal government committed extra funding to the ECAJ to enhance security in December after a fire tore through two of three Adass Israel synagogue buildings in Melbourne’s south.
