NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns is to be applauded for his resolute opposition to antisemitism. He has been consistent in calling for stronger national action since a few weeks after the obscene display of antisemitism and hate at the Sydney Opera House on 9 October 2023, where NSW Police stood by and did nothing. Had strong action been taken then, as I suggested at the time, it is doubtful we would have seen a 700% increase in antisemitic incidents.

The kid-gloves treatment of pro-Palestinian demonstrators and the resulting, ever-increasing, brazen antisemitic actions of those demonstrators, coupled with the feeble response by the Prime Minister, has emboldened Jew-haters in our midst.

Now, at the end of the day, whatever people’s feelings about Israel and Gaza, there is little we in Australia can do about it. However, we can take steps to ensure the problems of that troubled region don’t poison relations between different groups of Australians. No Australian ethnic community should have to live in fear of its neighbours.

Criminal racist attacks need to be crushed quickly and discouraged by strong legal action. 

I see my old mate, prominent Jewish MP Julian Leeser, has called for new federal laws against antisemitic behaviour, including mandatory sentences for certain crimes. I fully support that, and new, similar, complementary state laws need to be enacted as well. The recent attacks over the last week on Jewish synagogues in Sydney, including a failed arson attempt, can currently only lead to charges for breaches of graffiti laws and charges of malicious damage to property under the NSW Crimes Act.

I normally don’t support mandatory jail terms for criminal offences, but these antisemitic hate crimes (which appear to be coordinated) justify mandatory sentences. The attacks in Victoria, where a synagogue was burned down, should attract a minimum sentence of at least 20 years in my view, as it was only good luck that no one was killed.

I leave it to the experts to determine the appropriate mandatory sentences for the various crimes committed, but they must be substantial to have the desired deterrent effect.

These antisemitic actions are right out of 1930s Nazi Germany. It is only through strong action that antisemitism can be put back in its bottle.

And before anyone says, ‘Oh, what about Islamophobic acts?’ — well, where are they? I don’t recall reports of mosques being attacked or cars in Lakemba being vandalised.

The leaders of the Jewish and Muslim communities also need to unite and stand together in calling out this type of behaviour. It is disappointing that no one has come forward to identify the perpetrators, some of whom can be clearly seen in photos.

Perhaps the authorities should offer a reward to anyone who provides information leading to an arrest and conviction.

We are meant to be all Australians, and the vast majority of us want to live in peace and are appalled at one minority community being victimised in this way.

As Sir Peter Cosgrove, arguably Australia’s greatest living soldier, said: ‘Hitler would be proud (of these acts).’ Governments should act on his sage comments.