Opposition on the attack over growing anti-Semitism as new hate speech laws introduced to curb crisis

The Coalition will this week call for threats against places of worship to be included in a new Bill on hate crimes after leader Peter Dutton warned someone could die amid a nationwide spike in anti-Semitic attacks.

Mr Dutton issued his dire warning after a home in Perth’s western suburbs was targeted with anti-Jewish graffiti over the weekend and five women had eggs thrown at them near Bondi Beach, in what police are treating as an anti-Semitic attack.

The Jewish community has been plunged into fear by a stream of attacks including the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue and a Sydney childcare centre and a prominent Jewish leader’s former house being vandalised.

In a major escalation last week, it was revealed the police had discovered a caravan filled with enough explosives to trigger a mass casualty event, alongside anti-Semitic notes, at a property in Dural, north of Sydney.

“It escalates because it starts with the graffiti, and then the firebombings come, and then the attempted terrorist attacks take place, and it’s unacceptable,” Mr Dutton said.

The Opposition Leader reiterated the Coalition’s election promise to introduce mandatory jail terms for anti-Semitic attacks.

In January, it pledged to introduce mandatory minimum sentencing of six years for all acts of terrorism under Commonwealth law, although it has not yet mapped out a path for doing so.

It has also called for a minimum 12-month sentence for the public display of prohibited nazi symbols, prohibited terrorist organisation symbols, and performing the nazi salute in public.

The Coalition has repeatedly slammed Labor over its record in tackling the crisis, accusing it of being too slow and too weak in cracking down on anti-Semitic acts.

“I think we need to act as a parliament. The Prime Minister would say; ‘Oh, well the penalties are already there in place’, but somebody who’s charged with graffiti, or charged with wilful damage on a motor vehicle, with sign writing or messages of hate, whatever it might be, the reality is, if they front a magistrate in a local court tomorrow in greater Melbourne, they’re going to get a slap on the wrist,” Mr Dutton said.

The political battle over anti-Semitism looms over this week’s parliamentary sitting as the Government seeks to drive through cost-of-living and tax legislation in possibly the last session before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calls the election.

A draft Hate Crimes Bill is likely to trigger fiery debate over the sharp rise of anti-Jewish behaviour threatening to tarnish Australia’s reputation as a tolerant society.

The Government has flagged the bill to create new criminal offences and strengthen protection against hate crimes, as one of multiple steps to stamp out anti-Semitism, including the creation of a special envoy and additional funding for security.

It will create new criminal offences for directly threatening the use of force or violence against a group or a member of a group, carrying a maximum penalty of 5 years jail.

But in response to the ongoing crisis, the Coalition on Monday said it would push to tighten the bill to specifically mention places of worship.

“The Hate Crimes Bill needs to be strengthened to include people who urge or threaten attacks against places of worship. The recent discovery of a caravan of explosives apparently intended for an attack on a synagogue highlights the need for those offences,” shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash told The Nightly.

“We intend to move those amendments and hope the government will support them.”

Labor sources have warned the amendments, and a crossbench move to toughen wording around vilification could make the bill more divisive, risking its failure.

The Labor Government, meanwhile, is under pressure to explain when the Prime Minister was informed about the foiled caravan plot.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek clashed with Sunrise host Nat Barr on Monday morning after refusing to confirm if Mr Albanese knew about the probe before it was leaked to the public.

“Tanya, a bomb on wheels is found on the outskirts of Australia’s biggest city. Should the Prime Minister have been told?” Ms Barr asked.

“Well, of course, it’s a very concerning discovery but what we don’t do is give running commentaries during police investigations,” Ms Plibersek shot back.