Hollie Hughes (NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to take note of the response given by Minister Wong to Senator Cash. All decent Australians were horrified when they learned of the disturbing attacks last night that occurred just around the corner from where I live, in Woollahra, on people's cars, on houses and on the Chiswick restaurant. In a street where Wolper Jewish Hospital and the Emanuel Synagogue are, we saw antisemitic attacks occur in Woollahra.

It is horrifying to me, but it is a blight on this government and the total lack of leadership that this Prime Minister has shown when it comes to the rising tide of antisemitism that we are seeing across this country. I know of Senator O'Neill's distaste on the Labor side—and a couple of others would share her distaste—for what is happening to our Jewish community, but, unfortunately, those sensible voices are drowned out in the Labor caucus room as they pander politically to a small cohort of voters in south-west Sydney and condone not an attack but an act of terrorism that occurred last night.

Just this weekend past, I spent Sunday morning with the JCA. There were only three of us shiksas, three non-Jews, there for brunch, but 500 Jewish women turned up. They had to find a bigger venue. This community, our Australian Jewish community, are coming together to support each other as they live increasingly in fear. This brunch was in Wentworth. This attack was in Wentworth. We know that there is a large Jewish population in Wentworth. This community is living in fear.

What is coming from this government? Nothing but absolutely immoral flips and twists and turns and moves away from the strong relationship we have always had with our partner Israel—the only country in the Middle East who shares our values and who shares our democracy. Yet this Labor government is so bereft of a moral compass that they find every opportunity to move away from Israel, and it is an absolute shame and disgrace. You are hanging out to dry Jewish Australians every single day from your lack of moral clarity led from the Prime Minister down.

Now we learn that the foreign minister decided against the advice of DFAT—to out-left DFAT is an effort. The foreign minister has made a captain's call to reverse our position at the UN. What a disgrace. Answer this: how can anyone in that government—forget this rabble up here—accept that there will be any sort of two-state solution while we have had, for over 400 days, over 100 hostages being held? Where is your humanity. Baby Kfir has never experienced a birthday out of captivity—hell, most likely, if he is still alive. We do not know. His whole family was taken from their kibbutz by terrorists who filmed their murderous acts.

This war was started by Hamas and this war has been funded by Iran, yet those opposite are now siding with those who condone terrorism. We saw in the attacks last night the letters 'PKK'. No-one really knows what they mean. They think it has got something to do with this Kurdish separatist movement from Turkiye. Maybe that's bit of a 'der' moment considering these attacks happened just outside Ocean Street, just outside the Turkish embassy. Maybe that's not too long a bow to draw.

The lack of leadership from this government has contributed to the rising tide of antisemitism that is flooding through this country, and you should all hang your heads in shame. I hope none of you are turning up to a Hanukkah celebration, because you have turned your backs on the Jewish community. They know it, and you should be absolutely ashamed.