July 20, 2025 by Michael Gencher
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Antisemitism in Australia is at crisis level—there is no other way to describe it.
Michael Gencher
Jewish Australians are facing continuing and escalating hostility across campuses, online, and in public spaces. Community institutions operate under constant security. Yet, in the face of this surge, governments and police have offered little more than statements and expressions of sentiment. Words of support are no longer acceptable. The community is being forced to act in the absence of real protection or enforcement. This is no longer about awareness—it is about safety, accountability, and urgent action.
In July 2024, the Albanese Government appointed Jillian Segal as Australia’s first Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism—a move welcomed after months of rising hate. Earlier this month, the Special Envoy released a national strategy with over 40 recommendations to address antisemitism across education, media, online platforms, institutions, and law enforcement. On paper, it is a serious and necessary document.
The plan was welcomed by many within the Jewish community. It reflects key recommendations that community leaders, educators, and advocates have called for over many years. However, deep scepticism remains about both the government’s will and its ability to deliver. We’ve heard supportive statements before. What’s missing is follow-through. Without swift and meaningful implementation, the risk is clear: another well-intentioned but ultimately shelved symbolic gesture.
A glaring omission compounds this concern: the plan makes no mention of Israel or Zionism. In 2024, that absence cannot be overlooked. Modern antisemitism overwhelmingly manifests through the demonisation of Israel and the delegitimisation of Zionism. These are not fringe behaviours—they are central to how antisemitism is experienced in Australia today.
Zionism is not a political slogan. It is an expression of Jewish peoplehood and identity. For most Jews, Zionism reflects a deep connection to the land of Israel and the right to Jewish self-determination. You cannot effectively address antisemitism while ignoring this reality. And you certainly cannot educate against it. This is not just about how others see us—it is about how we see ourselves. Leaving Zionism and Israel out of the conversation alienates the very people this plan aims to protect.
To make matters worse, within a week of the plan’s release, the government signalled that implementation would be delayed. Ministers stated that no action would proceed until a separate Islamophobia strategy is delivered, expected next month. That announcement came as a shock. At no point during the plan’s development was it suggested that Jewish safety would be contingent on another community’s report. It felt like a kick in the guts—and it confirmed the very scepticism many had expressed from the outset.
This isn’t balanced. It’s bureaucratic appeasement. Islamophobia is real and must be addressed. But it is different from antisemitism. The two must not be conflated or made mutually dependent. Delaying action on one form of hate until another review is completed is not equity—it is avoidance. Governments are expected to deal with multiple challenges at once. Jewish safety cannot be deprioritised.
Antisemitism is a uniquely persistent and evolving hatred. It is found across ideologies and is often embedded in movements that claim moral legitimacy. Since October 7, it has intensified in protests, classrooms, media commentary, and across social media, often disguised as political activism. Jewish students are being intimidated, Jewish voices are being silenced, and Jewish identity is being distorted and denied.
This cannot wait. The government must immediately begin implementing the core recommendations, starting with data collection, incident reporting, and baseline standards for education providers. Public funding must be tied to compliance. Universities, cultural institutions, and media outlets should not receive taxpayer support unless they meet clear, measurable standards for addressing antisemitism. The plan must proceed independently of other timelines. Australians expect their government to act with urgency across all forms of hate.
Law enforcement and regulatory bodies must also be properly equipped—with the training and authority to respond quickly and consistently. And most critically, any serious approach must confront antisemitism in all its contemporary forms—including anti-Zionist extremism, delegitimisation of Israel, and the denial of Jewish peoplehood. Policies that ignore this will fail.
The national strategy is not perfect. But it is a credible start. What it needs now is action, not delay, not consultation, not more speeches.
The government has the recommendations. It has the mandate. What remains to be seen is whether it has the political will to act.
The Jewish community is watching—and so is the broader community. This time, words won’t be enough.
Michael Gencher is the Executive Director of StandWithUs Australia