John Howard blasts Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong over antisemitism in Australia; calls Australia gun law changes a ‘diversion’

“I am not here to point fingers,” Maimon said. “I am here to embrace, I am here to hug the community, the Australian citizens that care about life here in Australia, and care about the Australians of Jewish faith.”

But Littleproud added to criticism of the government, which has mounted since Monday, and accused Labor of distracting from its failings.

“Labor has ignored the cues that have come from society, including their own special envoy against antisemitism, that there is a violence problem towards those of the Jewish faith,” he said. “This isn’t a gun problem, it’s an ideology problem.”

Albanese and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley visited victims in hospital on Tuesday, and will attend an event that Governor-General Sam Mostyn is hosting with Jewish leaders on Tuesday night.

Ley also visited Bondi Pavilion with frontbencher Julian Leeser, while Albanese gave a press conference with NSW Police and Premier Chris Minns.

The Coalition will stand up a new antisemitism and extremism taskforce made up of key shadow ministers on Wednesday, as it turns up the heat on the government’s implementation of Segal’s report and any national security weaknesses that preceded Sunday’s attack.

Albanese has described Sunday’s attack as an “act of evil antisemitism”. He has rebuffed criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said his recognition of Palestine “poured fuel on antisemitic fire”, and said his job was to bring Australians together and stand with the Jewish community at this time.

“These antisemitic terrorist attacks will not be successful with their objective, which is to divide us as a nation,” Albanese said at a press conference on Tuesday. “We will continue to come together as a nation and to embrace each other.”

The government has extended funding to Jewish community security groups while it co-ordinates national reform to tighten gun laws. It will also fast-track visa processing for relatives wishing to visit Australia for funerals of the shooting victims.

Labor MP Josh Burns, who is Jewish, defended Albanese on Tuesday. “I’ve spoken [to him] many, many times about the situation that confronts the Jewish community in Australia,” he told Sky News.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns and NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon give an update on Tuesday.Credit: Sam Mooy

“Frankly, the prime minister has been really receptive to a lot of the asks that have been made … He has helped navigate things through government in a way that has meant that we were able to provide extreme, extreme levels and unprecedented levels of support to the community, of which I am deeply grateful for.”

But among several of those gathered in Bondi, there was fury. Burke, the home affairs minister, was heckled as he left a vigil in Bondi on Monday night. Two attendees called out “blood on your hands” and “shame, Tony Burke, shame”. Speaking to the ABC on Tuesday morning, Burke said community anger “makes complete sense”.

“People are grieving. This is a horrifically difficult time, and, you know, understandably. Let’s think about what’s just happened. It’s raw. Emotions are high, and people are angry, and I understand that completely,” he said.

As Hanson arrived to applause on Tuesday, accompanied by fresh One Nation recruit Barnaby Joyce, one person yelled out: “Get Albanese to resign.” Howard was met with equal rapture, with a man yelling, “Bring Howard back”. Bondi Rescue celebrity Anthony “Harries” Carroll was among those who were angry at the government, saying it had failed to protect the Jewish community.

One Nation’s Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce arrive at Bondi Pavilion to show their respect.Credit: James Brickwood

Albanese has been criticised 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 spate of attacks and threats at the start of the year – some of which were later linked to organised crime and Iranian interests.

On Tuesday Howard accused Albanese of taking more pleasure from recognising Palestine than standing with Israel. He also criticised Wong for neglecting to visit the communities of Israel that had been directly assaulted by Hamas during her visit to the country in January 2024.

“His greatest failure is not to provide the moral leadership that a prime minister can in denouncing antisemitism.”

Howard conceded that no single act would have prevented Sunday’s attack. “No sensible man or woman will say, if you’d done this or that … Sunday would not have happened,” he said.

“What you can say is that governments and individuals can do a lot to discourage the spread of prejudice, antisemitism, hatred of Jewish people. And I don’t think the present federal government and the present prime minister have done enough in that area since 2023.”

With Amber Schultz