Former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg has criticized the Victorian Premier, accusing her of fostering an environment ripe for radicalization in anticipation of an anti-Zionist demonstration in Melbourne.
He joined Jewish community leaders in their appeal to Premier Jacinta Allan, urging her to prevent Monday’s protest from taking place.
Initially, Anti-Zionism Australia had scheduled the demonstration outside the State Library of Victoria for Saturday, as a direct reaction to the recent terror attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
However, the organizers chose to delay the event until after Sunday, marking a week since the horrific Bondi incident, which resulted in 15 fatalities.
Frydenberg described the decision to hold the protest on Monday afternoon as ‘unthinkable’ and criticized the organizers for their persistence.
“This will only fuel the flames of animosity, and the government bears responsibility,” the influential Jewish Victorian expressed to Nine News.
‘We have just witnessed Australia’s most deadly terrorist attack with 15 innocent people – including 10-year-old Matilda – slaughtered at Bondi Beach.’
‘And extremists now want to demonstrate against stronger action to stop anti-Semitism? How can this make sense to anyone, and how can it in any way make us more safe?’
Josh Frydenberg has echoed calls for a planned anti-Zionist protest to be banned
Anti-Zionist Jews and supporters (pictured at previous rally) originally planned to rally on Saturday before it was moved to Monday
Frydenberg also accused Allan of allowing Melburnians to be radicalised as he called on her government to shut down hate groups.
‘Our focus must be on closing down these factories of hate, of stopping these radical Islamic preachers, of prosecuting those who incite violence in our cities,’ he said.
It comes as pro-Israel group Lions of Zion and anti-immigration group Put Australia First prepare to hold separate rallies in the Melbourne CBD on Sunday.
Allan urged protesters to avoid heading into the city this weekend and warned that ‘hateful’ protesters will be dealt with by police.
‘This is not a time for divisive protests,’ a government spokesperson said.
‘If you’re coming into the city in the coming days to whip up hate you will be dealt with by police.’
Frydenberg’s calls for Monday’s protest to be banned were backed by a surprising source – federal Labor education minister Jason Clare.
‘It is unthinkable that these rallies or protests would happen, full stop,’ Clare told the Today show.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan (pictured) is under mounting pressure to ban Monday’s rally
Frydenberg (pictured in Bondi last week) said that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese must accept accountability for the Bondi terrorist attack
Frydenberg’s latest comments come days after he blasted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for failing to address rising antisemitism across Australia.
Calling the Bondi attack ‘the greatest stain on this nation’, Frydenberg said Albanese must accept accountability for what happened.
‘It’s time for him to accept personal responsibility for the death of 15 innocent people including a 10-year-old child,’ Frydenberg said.
‘Call a royal commission, ban the preachers, ban the protests. Invest in education, enforce rigorous immigration checks, including for those already here, and deport those breaching our laws.
‘No ifs, no buts. You must act now.’
NSW Premier Chris Minns is set to introduce sweeping reforms to the state’s hate speech laws in a move some have described as regressive.
Several rallies will be held in Melbourne in the coming days in response to Bondi
The NSW parliament will reconvene at an urgent sitting this week to consider legislation that will limit protest rights and ban the display of hate symbols.
Minns said the proposed laws would also ban the phrase ‘globalise the intifada’ and other phrases, after he linked pro-Palestine rallies to the Bondi shooting.
Gun owners would also be limited to have four firearms under the new laws, and protests could effectively be banned for three months after a terrorism event is declared.
