NEVER AGAIN IS NOW 

AUSTRALIANS AGAINST ANTISEMITISM

CANBERRA

SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2026

REMARKS IN ABSENTIA

 

Australians of Jewish faith, …

Friends of our valued and valiant Jewish community, …

Defenders of our democratic values:

Thank you for attending the Never Again Is Now – Australians Against Antisemitism event in Canberra.

I was looking forward to being there with you.

But as I’m in the middle of a defamation case that’s been brought against me, I’ve had to stay in Darwin.

In my absence, I hope you can read these words.

And I hope you know that, in spirit, I stand with you and join you in saying, “Am Yisrael Chai.”

# # #

Most of you will remember where you were on the 7^th of October 2023 – Israel’s 9/11.

I remember where I was.

Hamas began its barbarism at 6:30 in the morning – dawn in Israel.

It was about 2:30 pm on the east coast of Australia.

I was in Hobart.

Soon after the news broke in Australia of the terrorist attacks, I took to the stage with Warren Mundine.

That evening was one of our last campaign rallies before the Voice referendum.

And it struck me:

There, Warren and I were trying to stop Australia from being divided by race.

And on the other side of the world, the death cult of Hamas was seeking to wipe out a race.

# # #

Almost five months to the day that Hamas unleashed hell, I landed in Tel Aviv.

That trip was one of the most profoundly moving experiences of my life.

I visited the site of the Nova music festival massacre.

I went to a kibbutz that was attacked.

I watched uncensored footage of that day of savagery – an unerasable record of Hamas’s evil.

Meeting with survivors, the families of hostages, and young IDF soldiers, I knew that despite all Israel had suffered – and was enduring – the country and its people would never give up, and never give in.

That “All for one, and one for all” ethos that defines Israelis – as noted by journalist Julie Szego – is a spirit both remarkable and palpable.

And yet, as days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, my own spirit was tested.

I’m sure it was the same for you.

How many more existential threats could Israel endure?

How many more lies and pieces of propaganda about Israel would Western media repeat uncritically? 

How many hostages would make it home alive?

And then, the tide began to turn.

A string of Israeli victories:

Hezbollah’s militants immobilised in the pager attack.

Houthi rebels quashed in targeted strikes.

Hamas’s leaders neutralised – especially the odious orchestrator of October 7, Yahya Sinwar.

Iran’s nuclear enrichment program disabled with the might of American military support.

President Trump’s Gaza peace plan signed.

And the miracle of the 20 living hostages returned.

Seeing the footage of loved ones reunited after so long, I felt their relief and joy – especially as a mother.

And as a mother, I felt too the sadness and solace of those families who finally had the bodies of their loved ones to bury.

# # #

While I’m cautiously optimistic about developments in the Middle East, I remain deeply troubled by events in Australia – and across Western democracies.

The antisemitism afflicting the West has unfolded with such speed, scale and severity that we are confronting something far more sinister than a passing crisis.

What’s at stake is the very soul of democratic nations.

If we do not rid ourselves of the plague of antisemitism here in Australia, the character of our country will be forever changed.

The permissibility of antisemitism is a surrender:

A surrender of tolerance to intolerance.

A surrender of freedom to oppression.

A surrender of civility to incivility.

If antisemitism is entrenched, it will erode our liberties and values.

If antisemitism is normalised, we will have failed our forebears by forsaking what they forged: a free and fair nation.

And that’s why antisemitism is not just the concern of Jewish Australians.

Antisemitism is the concern of all Australians.

# # #

Friends, there should be no need for Australians Against Antisemitism events to be held across the country today.

But we know why they are; we know why you’re attending.

Because after more than two years since the sordid scenes on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, there is no sign that the antisemitism afflicting our nation is abating.

And the reason remains a failure of political leadership.

# # #

In the last two years, too many political leaders have trivialised antisemitism.

We’ve seen false equivalences drawn with other forms of racism.

And we’ve seen conditional rebukes. All too often, antisemitism is only condemned provided Islamophobia and “all forms of racism” are condemned in the same breath.

It’s beyond time for Prime Minister Albanese to be upfront with Australians.

About the gravity of antisemitism.

About the unique threat antisemitism poses to our nation – especially if it’s normalised.

And it’s incumbent on the Prime Minister to speak up – before we have our own Manchester-style attack.

# # #

In the last two years, political leaders have rightly called out, and condemned, neo-Nazis.

But they’ve been reluctant to identify other prominent sources of this new wave of antisemitism.

This must change.

Our nation must have a reckoning with the purveyors and perpetrators of antisemitism if we’re to counter them.

# # #

The antisemitism we face has a youth component.

By this I mean young, impressionable Australians who have imbibed lies and propaganda about Israel.

They’re a noticeable presence at many pro-Palestinian protests.

They chant “From the River to the Sea”.

And yet, many don’t appreciate the genocidal nature of those words – or can even name the river or the sea.

Here, the solution to ignorance and indoctrination – as it’s always been – is education.

And not simply understanding the events of the Holocaust.

But knowing something about the history of the Jewish people, Israel and the Middle East too.

And also knowing something about civics and the duties of citizenship.

To help nurture young minds in a responsible and informed way, the review and refinement of the school history curriculum cannot come soon enough.

# # #

The antisemitism we face also has a revolutionary component.

As writer Brendan O’Neill observed, the veil of pacifism has been torn off many pro-Palestine protesters.

A peace deal is signed, and a ceasefire is in place.

And yet, protests continue because the primary goal of many activists remains the same goal as Hamas: the destruction of the Jewish State.

As for these activists’ professed concerns for Palestinian lives, we don’t hear a peep from them when Hamas publicly executes its own people.

For these professional protesters of the revolutionary Left, their crusades are many.

But whether they’re demonising Israel, spreading climate catastrophism, promoting radical trans activism, campaigning against capitalism, or raging against so called colonialism, their goal is always the same:

To attack our institutions, sow division, and ingrain national self-loathing.

Theirs is a war on the West.

And antisemitism is just another weapon in their anti-Western arsenal.

These protesters are getting more radical, more emboldened, and even violent.

They’re a menace to society and a danger to Australians.

And there must now be a concerted effort.

From leaders across the political spectrum.

And from the mainstream media:

To uphold a public interest duty to expose the revolutionary nature of these protesters – along with their lies, hypocrisy and double standards.

There’s something everyday Australians can do too.

There is an antidote to activists who peddle the poison of national guilt.

And that antidote is displays of national pride.

We must show the activists that they are the few, and we are the many.

I’m overjoyed to see a growing movement of Australians – from all walks of life – taking peacefully to our streets, waving our national flag, and singing our national anthem.

This visible outpouring of love for our country sends a clear message:

Our culture, values, history, institutions and way of life are worth remembering, protecting and defending. 

# # #

The antisemitism we face also has an Islamist component.

And I want to be clear:

I don’t mean the majority of Australians of Muslim faith who – like their fellow countrymen – work hard, embrace our values, and are loyal and cherished citizens.

I’m referring to a minority of people in our country today who subscribe to radical Islamism.

Islamists who want to see parallel legal systems established in Australia.

Islamists who do not believe in the equality of the sexes.

Islamists who seek to intimidate Australians of Jewish faith.

In short, people who don’t want to change for Australia, but want Australia to change for them.

Friends, this cannot stand.

It’s appalling that Islamist hate preachers in Australia are not deterred and continue to utter incendiary remarks.

It’s contemptible that an academic – an anti-Jewish activist – sought to indoctrinate preschool children at a perversely named ‘Kids excursion’ on Sydney University campus.

It’s disturbing that we’ve seen crowds at Sydney Airport, outside a Western Sydney school, and in our city streets chant “Allahu Akbar”.

If Australia is unwilling to confront radical Islamism, then the problems we face will intensify – as has occurred in the United Kingdom.

What then is to be done?

For starters, ISIS brides should never have been allowed back into our country.

We also need to reassess the Gazan cohort being granted visas by the Albanese Government.

The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research has been conducting polls for many years.

In the Center’s latest available May poll, it was found that 37 per cent of Gazans still endorse Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel – down from a high of 71 per cent in March 2024.

Moreover, only 34 per cent of Gazans support a two-state solution – the coexistence of Jewish and Palestinian states.

My concern is that among the more than 1,900 Gazans who are here on visas, there is a risk of there being even some individuals who have extremist views, who could spread those views, and who will not subscribe to Australian values.

We are dealing with a high-risk cohort.

At the very least, the Australian Government should reconsider plans to allow the remaining 600 to 700 of the Gazan caseload to enter Australia – especially given that circumstances have changed with the ceasefire and peace plan.

When Gaza is stabilised – when Hamas no longer has power – any Gazans here on temporary visas should return home to support the rebuild.

# # #

Regarding integration more broadly, my colleague, Julian Leeser, has suggested a pledge of commitment for migrants similar to a citizenship pledge.

It’s a good idea, but I think we should go further.

We need to strengthen the assessment – and conditions – upon which visas are granted to individuals with a view to their likelihood of adhering to our laws and abiding by our values.

And that’s because temporary visas have become a pathway to permanent residency.

Our migration program must prioritise the best interests of Australians – especially community safety and national unity.

Indeed, any non-citizen who incites or chooses violence must have their visa cancelled and be deported.

A culture of leniency and second chances to those who are hostile to Australia and our values will only lead to the Balkanisation of our nation.

# # #

Friends, a prevalence of antisemitism within a democratic nation is a sign of societal decay.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

May good and decent Australians keep doing everything possible to rid our country of this scourge of antisemitism and to preserve the soul of the nation we love.

My thanks to everyone attending Never Again Is Now – Australians Against Antisemitism events across our country today.

God bless you, God bless our Jewish community, and God bless Australia.

 

[Ends]