I have no expectation that these words will ultimately change anything, but I feel compelled to express my deep disquiet and worry about the way in which the political-media narratives are developing following the Bondi antisemitic terror attack.
The media and our politicians have a unique and powerful responsibility to use their voices and their influence in responsible and careful ways, especially in times of great crisis, and yet it appears to me that this discretion has not been well applied here – with dangerous consequences.
To be clear: I understand that people are deeply and profoundly hurt and have been frustrated for a long time about the Federal government’s responses to a growing wave of antisemitic sentiment (and action) in both the wider community and in public discourse over recent years. The mass murder of 15 innocent people is an unimaginable tragedy, for which individuals and communities are grieving. I grieve with them. People, of course, have every right to express their perspectives and their experiences, but the media and political classes have a higher responsibility to approach this with the utmost care.
Key figures have, from the outset, sought to actively politicise this tragedy with personal and partisan attacks, along with the use of language that carries heavy undertones of Islamophobia, and leans heavily on broad anti-immigrant sentiments. This is profoundly dangerous for Australia’s national security and social fabric.
Where in the past there has been an expectation, or at least an entrenched tradition, of bipartisan support from political leaders in order to lower tensions, minimise the prospect of further harm, and enact key policy changes, that has not been the case here.
‘Bipartisanship for me, but not for thee’ is a recipe for disaster at a time like this – compare the responses to Port Arthur or the Lindt café siege to how things are playing out now and note the differences. Would we be better off now if the then-opposition parties withheld their full support from the government of the day in the aftermath of those tragedies? While bipartisanship is not a virtue in and of itself, there is a time and a place.
Leadership comes with responsibility, so this does not absolve the government of a special duty to the victims and the Jewish community at large, but leadership is not only exhibited by the government of the day, whether federal, state, or local, but by all those whose voices and actions carry weight. The broad acceptance of political attacks at face value by many in the media, and thereby amplifying them, perversely risks causing further harm to Australian society.
In recent years there has been a regular use of the concept of “social cohesion” and “national resilience” as key policy objectives across Australia. However, these outcomes don’t just happen. It isn’t something you can simply legislate into existence with the swipe of a pen. It requires hard work at all levels of government, alongside civil society groups, community leaders, religious and cultural organisations, and everyday citizens, over a long stretch of time.
This heinous attack was directed against Jewish Australians, but it is also an attack on Australia as a whole. Jewish Australians are fellow citizens and full members of our community, as are Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Baha’is, atheists, agnostics, Indigenous Australians, and those of European, Asian, Pasifika, and African heritage – all these and more are part of our community and are core to what I think makes Australia the amazing country that it is today.
Terrorism aims to pull society apart and create division, discord, and destruction beyond the initial event itself, and we must keep this at the forefront of our minds when responding to crises.
Should the Prime Minister have done more sooner? Yes. Would those proposed actions have prevented this atrocity? I’m much less sure. I cannot see how they would have deterred evil, hateful terrorists from pursuing their murderous intent, particularly given there were concerns about their potential jihadist links as far back as 2019.
This ancient, incomprehensible hatred known as antisemitism did not commence in 2023, but we cannot be complacent. Acting sooner and stronger would have been a very positive step to build social cohesion, and the Prime Minister’s desire to ‘eradicate’ antisemitism is one I share, but this is a global threat which we should expect to keep threatening our fellow citizens despite our best efforts. It is therefore very heartening to see the full suite of measures announced by the government today, but a full review and inquiry across all relevant levels of government and bureaucracy should also be conducted to make sure any failures of legislation, policy, intelligence, and policing do not occur again.
For now, though, I implore all those in politics and the media to do all in their power to hold the Australian community together, not pull us apart.
David M. Andrews 
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