Is Antisemitism on the Rise in Australia? - 96five Family Radio

Is Antisemitism on the Rise in Australia?

Changes to privacy laws and strengthening of hate speech laws make headlines, while Australian Holocaust survivors ask the community ‘to stand with us’.

By Michael CrooksWednesday 14 Feb 2024NewsReading Time: 4 minutes

Personal privacy will be protected under new federal laws that criminalise “doxxing”, publicly revealing personally identifiable information about a person online, Hope News reports. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vowed to bring forward the changes to privacy laws and strengthening of hate speech laws, to counter activists who published the names and details of hundreds of Jewish people.

If you’ve not heard the term before, ‘dox’ or ‘doxxing’ is to search for and publish private or identifying information about (a particular individual) on the internet, typically with malicious intent.

“The new federal law will make it a criminal offence to engage in doxxing and similar harassment, while making broader changes in response to long-running review of the Privacy Act overseen by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus.” SMH states in their coverage of the PM’s announcement.

Antisemitism in Australia

Meanwhile, since the Israeli retaliation to the Hamas attack, acts of antisemitism have reportedly increased in Australia.

In November last year, more than 100 Australian Holocaust survivors penned a letter revealing there had been a rise in “abusive incidents” against Jewish people in Australia. Asking their fellow citizens, ‘to stand with us’.

“We are witnesses to the antisemitic propaganda that turned our friends, neighbours and the general public against us in Europe,” read the letter, referring to last century’s Nazi atrocities in Germany.

“…we have seen an unprecedented outpouring of antisemitism raging on our streets, on our television screens, on social media and in our universities.”

“Never have we, the survivors of the Holocaust felt the need to make a collective statement such as this until now. Never did we think that we would witness a re-enactment of the senseless and virulent hatred of Jews that we faced in Europe.”

“We ask you to stand with us.”

“The actions of Hamas are so familiar, so barbaric, yet instead of condemning this, the response across the globe is a shameful spike in antisemitism.

“We ask all Australians to denounce the antisemitism and hatred that we see today in our beautiful country and across the globe. We ask you to stand with us.”

“Cohesive society”

In light of such abuse, Christian group Never Again is Now is campaigning for a “cohesive society for all.”

“We know that the history and politics of the Middle East is complicated and contested,” said the charity in a statement.

“However, we firmly believe that there is never an excuse for antisemitism.”

Co-founder Mark Leach, an Anglican clergyman, told Hope 103.2 that there has been “very significant increase in antisemitism in Australia” since October.

“…we firmly believe that there is never an excuse for antisemitism”.

“In addition to the reported incidents there is a general sense of fear and isolation in the Jewish community,” Mr Leach said.

Never Again is Now are inviting you to an ‘”event for everyone.  Organised by a group of Christian people who believe we need to stand against that most ancient of racial hatreds, antisemitism”. Never Again is Now are committed to ensuring that ‘no such evil finds a home in our beautiful country of Australia’, and believe that there is never an excuse for antisemitism.

“We look forward to working with anyone of any religious, or non-religious, background who wishes to join us in this stand.” they share.

To find out more about the event visit events.humanitix.com/never-again-is-now-sydney.


Israeli-Hamas War: “Innocent civilians are suffering”

Helping families

While peace remains elusive, Australian charities have rallied to help those affected by the war.

Christian charity Samaritan’s Purse has deployed a disaster response team to Israel to help provide hot meals and other basic necessities to those in need.

“War is horrific, and innocent civilians are suffering,” said the charity’s president Franklin Graham, who travelled to Israel in November last year, following the Hamas attack.

“Samaritan’s Purse is committed to helping families in need.”

“Staggering needs”

The International Committee of the Red Cross and the Australian Red Cross are also working with both Israeli and Palestinian charities to provide assistance.

In Australia, the Red Cross provides a “Restoring Family Links” service for people who have lost contact with loved ones in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

“The needs are staggering and will only continue to increase if the hostilities persist,” the Australian charity said in a statement.


Author: Mike Crooks and Natalie Bennett

Featured image: Photo by Canva Pro