Former prime minister Tony Abbott has made a statement on Sunday’s shooting, adding to the chorus of Jewish and opposition voices that are criticising the federal government for its handling of antisemitism since October 2023.
“Regrettably, this was just the latest escalation of the Jew hatred that’s afflicted our country in the two years since the October 7 atrocity,” Abbott said.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott.Credit: Getty Images
“From Australia’s leadership at every level there’s mostly been hand-wringing impotence: no hate preachers have been prosecuted or deported, and no hate marches have been banned, even though these have gone way beyond any possible exercise of freedom of speech or protest into acts of harassment and intimidation.
“We must do so much better to protect Jewish Australians and to restore the welcome that Jewish people have long had in this country.”
Abbott also said it was important that “people from very different cultures” live up to Australian values, echoing a debate being had within Coalition ranks as the party presses pause on its immigration policy announcement in the aftermath of Sunday’s terror attack.