‍Tuesday 16 December 2025

Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster MP has condemned the horrific attacks on Jewish people celebrating Hanukah on Sunday in Bondi, also emphasising the Albanese Labor Government must be held accountable for its inaction on antisemitism.

“This terrorist act is blatantly unAustralian, and does not reflect Australian values.  We must reject antisemitism in all its forms, from insults and inciting violence, to the murderous violence that occurred during a public worship event in Sydney and the firebombing of the Adass Synagogue in Melbourne,” Dr Webster said.

 “My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have died or are seriously injured from this unspeakable, unthinkable tragedy on Australian soil.  Australia’s international reputation as a welcoming, easy-going society has been rocked to its core.  As leaders and parliamentarians, we must do better.  As the Coalition Opposition, we hold the Albanese Labor Government accountable given they had ample warning this atrocity could occur.

 “The ASIO Chief Mike Burgess warned in February that the biggest threat to national security was lone actors acting upon antisemitism,” Dr Webster said.

 “The Albanese Government’s new antisemitism envoy, Jillian Segal, presented her report in July to government, which has received no formal government response.

 “Those are the key facts and that should be the focus here, not a deflection to a debate on gun control.

 Dr Webster said she had called out antisemitism incidents before last Christmas and when it had arisen in Mallee in Red Cliffs and Maryborough.

 “The Albanese Government has let Jewish people down, including my own constituents, who through me have told the Government they do not feel safe in Australia.  This Bondi horror has unfolded on the Government’s watch – we cannot let them deflect to the primary issue being about gun ownership,” Dr Webster said.

 “While there is some merit in the argument that non-citizens (ie those on visas), should not have a firearms licence, what I don’t want to see is – yet again – Australian farmers being targeted for problems Labor Governments refuse to tackle head-on at the source.”

 Dr Webster noted that Mallee farmers needed firearms to deal with the threat of wild dogs mauling sheep that then need to be euthanised, not to mention controlling rabbits, foxes and at times kangaroos and their impact on farms.

 “The Nationals’ federal MPs met yesterday to discuss necessary reforms and have offered to return to Canberra if necessary to pass laws to make Australians safer,” Dr Webster said.

 “The last thing The Nationals will do is allow Labor to shift the focus from national security and people with antisemitic views, to law-abiding Australian citizens who are firearm owners.”