MEDIA RELEASE – ALBANESE GOVERNMENT FAILS ON ANTISEMITISM – AGAIN

Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Minister For Foreign Affairs
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia

Mr Julian Leeser MP
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister For The Arts
Member for Berowra

13 August 2025

ALBANESE GOVERNMENT FAILS ON ANTISEMITISM – AGAIN

It’s shocking but unsurprising to learn the revelations today that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong failed to join dozens of other countries and sign a statement condemning antisemitism in the aftermath of October 7, 2023.

Less than 24 hours after the terrorist group Hamas publicly praised Mr Albanese for recognising a Palestinian state, Australians have learned that the Albanese Government refused to sign a global statement condemning antisemitism in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 terrorist massacre.

The statement was signed by nearly three dozen countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany. The statement described Hamas’s attack as “barbaric” and “the most lethal assault against the Jewish people since the Holocaust.”. The U.S. State Department directly asked Australia to join the statement, but their request was rejected.

Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Michaelia Cash, called on the Prime Minister to explain this appalling rejection.

“Prime Minister Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong need to urgently explain why they refused to sign a global statement condemning antisemitism in the aftermath of the barbaric October 7 attacks.” Senator Cash said.

“Mr Albanese and Minister Wong have signed numerous statements and have supported numerous motions attacking Israel, but refused to join in international efforts to combat antisemitism. They have again let down the Jewish community.” Senator Cash said.

Shadow Attorney General, Julian Leeser, said the Albanese Government must explain to the Australian people why it turned down a direct request from the United States to sign a statement defending Jewish communities worldwide.

“If the Prime Minister can’t bring himself to condemn antisemitism after the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust, Australians have every right to question where his priorities lie.” Mr Leeser said.

ENDS