The Coalition has launched an antisemitism, extremism and counterterrorism taskforce in the wake of the Bondi attack, as pressure mounts on Anthony Albanese to implement his special envoy’s report “in full”.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley will head the internal group aiming to intensify scrutiny of the federal government’s response to antisemitism and assess national security weaknesses and emerging risks exposed by the terror attack that killed 15 people.
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A key focus of the Coalition taskforce will be examining how all recommendations from antisemitism special envoy Jillian Segal can be “progressed, strengthened and implemented”, with the Coalition to consider putting its own private members’ bills before parliament if necessary.
The group will also seek to identify gaps in law enforcement powers, and undertake “direct and ongoing engagement” with Jewish community leaders and organisations to improve their protection and restore confidence.
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The taskforce, which includes Coalition frontbenchers Michaelia Cash, Jonno Duniam, James Paterson, Julian Leeser, Andrew Wallace and Bridget McKenzie, met for the first time on Tuesday.
Ms Ley said antisemitism was a “real and present danger” to Australian lives, which therefore needed a “serious national response”.
“This is a national security issue,” she said.
“It is not a debate about politics or slogans. It is about keeping Australians safe.”
Ms Ley said she believed antisemitism had been “allowed to grow in plain sight” and the Bondi terror attack was a “consequence” of the nation’s “failure to confront extremism early and decisively”.
“The Coalition stands ready to support any serious and effective action that strengthens counterterrorism, disrupts extremists and protects lives,” she said.
The prime minister has defended his government’s response to antisemitism in Australia, claiming Labor was already “implementing” recommendations from Ms Segal’s report released in July.
“We’ve legislated against hate speech, against Nazi symbols, legislated against doxxing,” he said.
“We’ve introduced for the first time a National Student Ombudsman.
“We’ve got a $4 million program, Together for Humanity … aimed at eradicating racism in schools.
“We have introduced substantial funding for security, cultural funding as well.”
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The Department of Home Affairs is also working with Ms Segal on antisemitism training for staff involved in visa processing.
Options include rolling out revised foundational training to all visa and citizenship decision makers as well as targeted advanced guidance for team leaders and specialist staff on recognising antisemitism in the context of visa processing.
Though the Albanese government is acting on some issues, it has not responded formally to all of Ms Segal’s recommendations, including more controversial proposals to strip funding from universities and cultural institutions that fail to effectively deal with antisemitism.
Ms Segal has repeatedly acknowledged her good working relationship with the government, but on Tuesday sharpened her comments about Labor’s lack of formal response.
“Of course, the report could have been acted on further and faster, but that doesn’t mean opportunity is lost,” she told Sky News.
“I think that now the community is sufficiently concerned and anxious about this, that there should be a formal statement about the implementation.”
