Amid Rising Antisemitism, Australia Confronts a Disturbing Surge with Firm Resolve
Jewish Australians are facing an unprecedented surge in antisemitic threats, violence, and vandalism—sparking deep concern nationwide and prompting urgent calls for action, according to Jillian Segal, Australia’s Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Segal described the current climate as “deeply troubling,” citing a 300% spike in antisemitic incidents following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, which ignited the ongoing war in Gaza. Her remarks were quoted by AFP.
“We’ve seen cars torched, synagogues firebombed, and individuals harassed simply for being Jewish,” said Segal. “That is completely unacceptable.”
Segal’s stark warnings are backed by disturbing examples: an arson attempt on a Melbourne synagogue, antisemitic graffiti defacing cars, and an Israeli-owned restaurant swarmed by protesters—all on a single day last week.
“These are not isolated events,” Segal emphasized. “They reflect a broader pattern of intimidation and hostility that has left Jewish Australians feeling unsafe in their own country.”
Appointed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last year, Segal released a 16-page report containing policy recommendations to tackle this disturbing rise in antisemitism. Key proposals include:
- Strengthening laws against hate speech and intimidation
- Enhancing Holocaust education
- Holding universities accountable for campus antisemitism
- Imposing funding consequences for non-compliance
- Combating online hate with improved monitoring and regulation
Segal’s recommendations come amid a series of antisemitic attacks across the country. In December, Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue was firebombed, in what authorities are treating as an act of terrorism. In Sydney’s Woollahra suburb, home to a sizable Jewish population, a car was torched and properties were vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti.
Hateful slogans—such as “F— the Jews”—have been spray-painted on vehicles, and several synagogues across Sydney, including in Allawah and Newtown, were desecrated with red swastikas and other vile messages.
In a separate scandal, two Australian nurses, Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, appeared in a viral video declaring they would refuse to treat Israelis and would “send them to hell.” The response was swift: both were banned for two years from working with Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Segal’s report warns that antisemitism in Australia has reached a tipping point, endangering social cohesion and the sense of security among Jewish Australians.
Yet even amid this crisis, there are signs of moral clarity and institutional resolve. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese affirmed his government’s commitment, declaring:
“There is no place in Australia for antisemitism. The kind of hatred and violence we’ve seen on our streets is despicable—and it won’t be tolerated.”
Segal echoed that sentiment, urging all Australians to recognize that when any community is targeted, the entire nation is diminished.
“The safety and dignity of one community affects us all,” she stated. “We must act now—decisively and collectively—to preserve the kind of Australia we all believe in: one of mutual respect, diversity, and justice.”
