John Howard blasts Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong over antisemitism in Australia; calls Australia gun law changes a ‘diversion’
“I’m not here to point fingers,” Maimon said. “I’m here to embrace the community, Australian citizens who care about life in Australia, and I’m here to care about Australians of the Jewish faith.”
But Littleproud added to his growing criticism of the government since Monday, accusing Labor of distracting from its failures.
“Labour has ignored hints from the public, including its own special envoys against antisemitism, that there is a problem of violence against members of the Jewish faith,” he said. “This is not a gun problem, it is an ideology problem.”
Albanian and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley visited victims in hospital on Tuesday and will attend an event hosted by Governor-General Sam Mostyn with Jewish leaders on Tuesday night.
Ley also visited Bondi Pavilion with frontman Julian Leeser, while Albanese held a press conference with NSW Police and Premier Chris Minns.
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Albanese described Sunday’s attack as a “diabolical act of anti-Semitism”. He rejected criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said his recognition of Palestine “provided fuel for the anti-Semitic fire” and said his duty was to bring Australians together and stand with the Jewish community at this time.
“These anti-Semitic terrorist attacks will not succeed in their aim, which is to divide us as a nation,” Albanese said at a press conference on Tuesday. he said. “We will continue to come together as a nation and hug each other.”
The government is also funding Jewish community security groups as it coordinates national reforms to tighten gun laws. Visa processing will also be expedited for relatives wishing to visit Australia for the funerals of shooting victims.
Labor MP Josh Burns, who is Jewish, defended Albanese on Tuesday. “I spoke [to him] He has repeatedly described the situation facing the Jewish community in Australia,” he told Sky News.
Premier Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns and NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon provided an update on Tuesday.Credit: Sam Mooy
“Obviously, the prime minister has been really receptive to a lot of the questions that have been put to him… He’s helped manage things through the government in such a way that we’ve been able to provide extreme, extreme, unprecedented levels of support to the community, and I’m deeply grateful for that.”
But there was anger among many of those gathered in Bondi. Home secretary Burke was stunned as he left the vigil in Bondi on Monday night. Two attendees shouted “blood on your hands” and “shame, Tony Burke, shame.” Speaking to the ABC on Tuesday morning, Burke said the community’s anger was “completely logical”.
“People are grieving. This is a terribly difficult time, and understandably so. Let’s think about what’s happening now. It’s raw. Emotions are high and people are angry, and I completely understand that,” he said.
On Tuesday, when Hanson came to applaud with One Nation new member Barnaby Joyce, one person shouted: “Call the Albanians to resign.” Howard was received with equal enthusiasm; a man was yelling, “Bring Howard back.” Saving Bondi The famous Anthony “Harries” Carroll was among those angry at the government, saying it had failed to protect the Jewish community.
One Nation’s Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce come to Bondi Pavilion to pay their respects.Credit: James Brickwood
Albanese has been criticized by Jewish community leaders and the opposition for his response to antisemitism since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023, particularly after a series of attacks and threats at the beginning of the year, some of which were later linked to organized crime and Iranian interests.
On Tuesday, Howard accused Albanese of enjoying getting to know Palestine more than standing with Israel. He also criticized Wong for neglecting to visit Israeli communities that came under direct attack from Hamas during his visit to the country in January 2024.
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“His greatest failure is his inability to provide the moral leadership that a prime minister can in condemning antisemitism.”
Howard acknowledged that no single action could have prevented Sunday’s attack. “No sane man or woman would say that if you had done this or that, Sunday would not have happened,” he said.
“You could say that governments and individuals can do a lot to prevent the spread of prejudice, anti-Semitism and Jew-hatred. And I don’t think the current federal government and the current prime minister have done enough in this area since 2023.”
With Amber Schultz
Bondi terror attack given more coverage
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