Anthony Albanese accused of being MIA after Bondi’s mass shooting and ignoring alarm bells on anti-Semitism

Anthony Albanese has been accused of a lack of leadership in the wake of a mass shooting at Bondi Beach and ignoring alarm bells raised by the Jewish community about rising Anti-Semitism on home soil.

Jewish Australia’s worst fears were realised on Sunday when an armed father-son duo allegedly “unleashed evil” on a Hanukkah celebration, killing 15 people including a 10-year-old girl and Holocaust survivors.

Mourners, Jewish leaders and Coalition MPs have accused the Albanese Government of “failing Australians” by dismissing anti-Semitism concerns in the wake of the Hamas-led terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The criticism has included personal attacks on Mr Albanese’s response to the massacre, saying he had been missing from duty during the nation’s “hour of need”. Instead, NSW leader Chris Minns and Coalition MPs have are viewed as more visible.

Mr Minns on Wednesday announced he’ll recall the NSW Parliament next week to discuss gun reforms and consider measures to restrict protest activity.

Opposition leader Sussan Ley has established a Coalition anti-Semitism, extremism and counterterrorism taskforce.

The PM wasn’t at Mr Minn’s press conference alongside NSW police commissioner Mal Lanyon on Wednesday afternoon, instead Anthony Albanese opted for a snap media appearance in the morning in front of the St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney after visiting staff.

The PM’s appearance came with little warning, prompting complaints from members of the media who were unable to attend and questions about further opportunities.

Mr Albanese did not attended the funeral of the late Rabbi Eli Schlanger on Wednesday, which marked the first for the 15 people who died on Sunday, saying he would only attend funerals of victims if he was invited.

Ms Ley, other Coalition MPs, former prime minister Scott Morrison, Mr Minns and NSW Opposition leader Kellie Sloane were spotted at the Chabad of Bondi synagogue where Rabbi Schlanger’s service was held.

Nationals leader David Littleproud accused Mr Albanese of “walking away” from “the nation’s moment” and at an “hour of need”.

“This is our nation’s moment. This is the Prime Minister’s moment. But unfortunately, he hasn’t grasped it. He’s walked away from it. There is an opportunity for him to lead,” he said.

The Opposition has called for the PM to urgently adopt and action a report by his hand-picked special envoy for anti-Semitism Jillian Segal, which was handed to the government in July as a road map to combat the issue.

“For too long, anti-Semitism has been allowed to grow in plain sight,” Ms Ley said.

Mr Albanese has defended his government’s action and declared he would do “whatever’s necessary” to stop anti-Semitism in Australia.

“We’ll call all of the legislative responses. We’re up for whatever’s necessary,” Mr Albanese said.

“I met with Jillian Segal again yesterday. I have spoken with her daily, we’re continuing to work through a whole range of the measures in the Segal report.

“Many nations, such as the United States, have had special envoys in anti-Semitism for a long period of time. My government is the first to appoint one., Jillian Segal is doing an extraordinary job, we’ll continue to engage with her on an ongoing basis, including that lessons that arise from this atrocity.”

Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg said it was time for Mr Albanese to “accept personal responsibility for the deaths of innocent people” in an impassioned, furious speech at the Bondi Beach memorial site.

During the emotionally-charged speech, Mr Frydenberg said the events on Sunday were “all too predictable” and the “greatest stain on our nation”, brought on by the Government’s failure to act to stamp out the country’s rising tide of anti-Semitism.

He referenced the spike in anti-Semitism incidents on home soil, after the 2023 Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel, including the firebombing of synagogues and protests across cities and large-scale rallies at the Opera House and across Sydney Harbour Bridge.

It came as a string of Coalition MPs vowed to return to Federal Parliament if the PM recalled it for legislative changes.

“He’s had (the Segal report) for nearly six months, one in which there’s 13 recommendations. Two of those come with potential federal legislation. I challenge him: Why aren’t we in Canberra today?” Mr Littleproud challenged.

Liberal MP Julian Leeser urged the PM to return to the site of the massacre after his brief visit on Monday morning.

“It’s only when you hear the anger, it’s only when you hear the tears of grown men at a funeral, it’s only when you understand the enormity of a 10-year-old child massacred at this place, that you will feel the need to take action,” he said.

“I beg the Prime Minister, the time for action is now.”

The parents of 10-year-old victim Matilda, whose last name has been withheld at her family’s request, will farewell their daughter on Thursday.

Valya and Michael were among mourners scathing of the Albanese Government’s action on anti-Semitism.

Valya said the PM had “failed my daughter and failed every victim.”

“He has betrayed the Jewish people of Australia, and of the whole world. Like what the hell is he thinking? And it showed what happened,” Michael told The Daily Telegraph, echoing his wife’s words.

The Ukraine immigrants spoke at the growing flower memorial at Bondi Pavillion on Tuesday night, telling the crowd they named their daughter Matilda because she was their first born in Australia.

“Her name was Matilda because she was our first Australian,” Michael said, holding a framed picture of his daughter.

“We came here from Ukraine… and I thought that Matilda is the most Australian name that can ever exist. So just remember the name, remember her.”

The grieving daughter of 61-year-old Reuven Morrison also criticised the Government. Mr Morrison was killed after confronting one of the gunmen by throwing bricks at him.

His daughter Sheina Gutnick penned a lengthy open letter labelling Labor as “weak” leaders who had “dismissed Jewish warnings as noise.”

“Australia did not fail quietly. It failed loudly, repeatedly, and with full knowledge,” it read.

“Its Government watched hatred grow and chose to do nothing. They minimised it. They excused it. They dismissed Jewish warnings as noise.”

The frustration over the Albanese government’s actions were palpable when Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke visited a vigil at Bondi Beach on Monday night.

He was heckled by mourners, who accused him of failing to protect Australia’s Jewish community.

On Wednesday, fellow Labor frontbencher Richard Marles was also heckled during a live interview on Sky from Geelong in his Victorian electorate.

While the Deputy Prime Minister spoke about the massacre, a man could be heard accusing Labor of failing Australians.

“You and your Government are an absolute disgrace… You, the Prime Minister, Penny Wong,” the man yelled.

After the heckling, Sky host Peter Stefanovic asked Mr Marles if his Government had “failed” to act on the Jewish community’s concerns.

“We have been calling out anti-Semitic (behaviour). Obviously, we commissioned the (special envoy Jillian) Segal report. Not for a moment would I suggest that the work is complete. This is a long-term project,” Mr Marles said.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong also defended the Albanese Government’s action to comabt anti-Semitism and said the Bondi Beach mass shooting was a “radical, extreme” act that sought to divide Australia.

“Look, this was an attack, an anti-Semitic attack, on Jewish Australians - an attack which was evil, an attack which has left so many Australians dead, mourned by their families,” she told ABC.

“The Jewish Australian community is mourning, and so too is the whole of the country.

“What I would say is that this is a time that we need to come together. Because this attack was inspired by an ideology that is seeking to divide us.”