The interim Bondi report has highlighted the deep failures of Labor to address antisemitism and threats to our national security, a prominent former Labor MP has warned.
The report, handed down this week as part of the Royal Commission into antisemitism, outlined 14 recommendations aimed at strengthening counter-terrorism coordination and protecting high-risk events.
The federal government has accepted all recommendations and pledged to implement them with the states.
But former Labor MP Michael Danby and former Liberal senator Hollie Hughes say the findings point to problems beyond structural reform.
They argue the report highlights a lack of focus on the underlying drivers of antisemitism.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government would act on the recommendations and ensure a nationally consistent response.
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But Mr Danby said the response did not go far enough.
“I've been pointing to the fact that since August 2024, this socialist left government failed to pay sufficient attention to what the Director General of ASIO said, and that is upgrade their interests in terrorism against the Jewish community.” he told Sky News host Rowan Dean.
He said warnings about threats to the Jewish community had not been properly addressed.
“The Islamist zeitgeist that they tolerated contributed to the Jihadist crazies thinking that the game was on,” he said.
Ms Hughes also raised concerns about how the government has handled the rise in antisemitism.
“They were absolutely in a state of denial about the rise in antisemitism,” she said.
The Bondi attack, which targeted the Jewish community in December, came after Australia’s terror threat level was lifted to “probable”, indicating a heightened risk of an attack.
Ms Hughes said the response to antisemitism has been inconsistent and has placed a burden on the Jewish community.
“I think it's absolutely disgraceful that the Jewish community have to consistently fund their own security force, to look after kids at preschool and people worshipping at synagogues,” she said.
She said government priorities were not aligned with the level of risk.
“They honestly don't see the protection of Jewish Australians in the same light that they see protection of those hate preachers screaming about radical Islam,” she said.
Mr Danby also pointed to concerns about decision-making at the highest levels of government, including the composition of the National Security Committee.
“It makes no sense; ‘Blackout Bowen’ on a national security committee, my goodness,” he said referring to Energy Minister Chris Bowen being part of the committee, while Director-General of ASIO Mike Burgess was at one point removed.
The report notes a rise in antisemitic incidents since October 2023 and recommends closer cooperation between police and community security groups.
It also calls for improved planning for major events and more regular threat briefings.
Ms Hughes said those steps are necessary but do not address a key issue she feels has contributed to rising antisemitism.
“Police forces are sent out all over the country with these pro-Palestinian rallies that have been allowed to consistently occur, particularly since October 7,” she said.
The report found that existing legal frameworks did not prevent authorities from responding to the attack and did not identify an urgent need for legislative change.
She said a stronger response is needed to deal with those promoting hatred.
“There needs to be a more fundamental shift in the Australian community, that this rise in antisemitism isn't allowed to continue and that those that wish to maintain and fester this hatred are stamped out,” she said.
“Whether it means they're deported or they're jailed under hate speech legislation, something needs to be done.”
The Royal Commission will begin public hearings in May, with a final report due by December.
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