SENATOR THE HON DAVID FAWCETT
Deputy Chair, Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Senator for South Australia
Media ReleaseAntisemitic Attacks in Sydney
I was deeply concerned to hear reports of sickening antisemitic vandalism in Sydney overnight.
According to police reports, one vehicle was set alight and destroyed, while nine other vehicles had offensive graffiti spray-painted on them. Three premises were also targeted with graffiti.
I condemn these actions in the strongest possible terms. We must continue to stand against antisemitism in our state and our nation. These attacks are just the latest in a long line of horrific incidents, most notably in Amsterdam recently, of antisemitic attacks on the Jewish community—prompted by Hamas’s brutal terror attacks of 7 October.
More Jewish lives were lost during the 7 October massacres than on any single day since the Holocaust. Despite this, we have seen protests in Australia repeatedly celebrate these massacres. Australia must continue to stand with the Jewish community—against the kind of hatred and violence that we are seeing play out around the world.
Australia is a free, fair and prosperous nation. We enjoy a successful and stable plural liberal democracy—where differences are respected and the input of Australians of all backgrounds is valued.
There is absolutely no place for antisemitism in our country.
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