Independent MP Allegra Spender has said revelations that Iran was behind at least two antisemitic attacks in Australia, including the arson attack at Sydney’s Lewis’ Continental Kitchen in Spender’s seat of Wentworth, highlighted the “incredibly serious” nature of the criminal actions designed to undermine social cohesion.
Spender, whose electorate comprises one of the largest Jewish communities in Australia, said the attacks have been “terrifying” and praised the Albanese government’s “long overdue” decision to list the IRGC as a terrorist organisation.
Independent MP Allegra Spender.Credit: James Brickwood
“This is a reminder of how serious that [attacks] is and particularly the Iranian involvement really trying to undermine, I think, the social fabric of, of our community,” Spender told Nine’s Today.
“Iran has really, in this case, it seems, has tried to really amplify that [antisemitism] and terrorise the community so that people just don’t know if it’s safe for them to go about their days … that is why it was absolutely appropriate for the Iranian ambassador to be expelled. And, you know, and the IRGC listing as a terrorist organisation is, frankly, long overdue.”