Sussan Ley urges Anthony Albanese to act on ‘rising tide’ of anti-Semitism after Melbourne synagogue attack

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has called for Anthony Albanese to adopt an action plan put forward by the country’s peak Jewish body to combat the “rising tide of anti-Semitism” in Australia after a spate of attacks in Melbourne.

Mr Ley visited the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, which was targeted in an arson attack on Friday night.

She said “hate can never be normalised” in Australia and urged the Federal Government to adopt the Executive Council of Australia Jewry’s previously laid out 15-point plan.

Speaking to reporters outside the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, she described it as a “very sound sensible plan”.

“Under my leadership, we recommit to supporting this community wholeheartedly and the 15-point plan that ECAJ has put together from a summit several months ago,” she said.

“We want to see measures that work and I am reluctant to suggest that this won’t work. What I hear from the community is there have been many task forces, there have been many talkfests, many conversations and many words. What they are really calling for is action.

“What is so clear is that hate can never be normalised. It can never be excused. It can never be explained away,” Ms Ley said.

“It is not the tolerant multicultural country that we hold dear. Enough is enough.

“Today’s visit is about solidarity, it is about important next steps that we need to take.”

It comes as several Opposition Leaders wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to hold a dedicated National Cabinet against anti-Semitism.

However, Mr Albanese insisted his Government was focused on action when asked about the call in Tasmania on Tuesday.

“Every time an issue comes up, people say, ‘Let’s have a National Cabinet’,” he told reporters.

“Let’s be clear. People don’t want a meeting. They want action. Action is what they want.”

Mr Albanese said the attacks “deserve condemnation” and labelled anti-Semitism as a “scourge” that “has no place in Australia”.

He said the Government had already responded substantially with increasing security for synagogues, Jewish schools and community organisations.

“We have a task force. What we do is take on security issues. We take advice from security agencies. That’s precisely what we have done,” he said.

“One of the reasons why this gentleman has been caught so quickly is because the CCTV that was in place there was as a direct result of Commonwealth government funding.

In addition to that, the reinforcement of the door of the synagogue was done with that Commonwealth security funding.

“We will respond to any request constructively.”