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<\/p>\nShadow Education Minister Julian Leeser has revealed the disturbing antisemitic abuse he faces, saying he is routinely branded a \u201ctraitor and a Mossad agent\u201d despite his family’s history of service to Australia.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
His comments came as the Royal Commission into antisemitism resumed hearings in Sydney, with Labor MP Josh Burns appearing as\u00a0a\u00a0witness on Tuesday.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The latest round of hearings is examining the spread of antisemitic material through social media and traditional media following a sharp rise in incidents across Australia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Speaking to Sky News on Tuesday morning, the Liberal frontbencher detailed his own experience as a Jewish Australian.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy family\u00a0has\u00a0been here since the 1840s. My great grandfather was at Gallipoli\u00a0…\u00a0my grandfather was a prisoner of war in Changi and fought on\u00a0the Burma\u00a0Railway,\u201d\u00a0he said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd yet,\u00a0every time I post anything on my social media, I’m called a traitor and a Mossad agent.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mr\u00a0Leeser said much of the abuse was too graphic to repeat publicly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s what Jewish Australians are coping with today,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
He acknowledged politicians often face criticism and abuse but said the amount directed at Jewish Australians had crossed a line.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, I’m a member of\u00a0parliament\u00a0so you expect some level of abuse as a member of parliament, but no one should expect that level of abuse,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0don’t\u00a0want an Australia for my children,\u00a0or for anyone’s children,\u00a0where people are judged\u00a0on the basis of\u00a0their race or religion.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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\u201cI want an Australia where people are judged on their contribution.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI love this country, I love Australians. I know most Australians\u00a0don’t\u00a0do\u00a0this either.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mr\u00a0Leeser said the problem had worsened significantly since the October 7 Hamas attacks and escalated again after the Bondi terror attack.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think every Jewish Australian has faced an enormous amount of antisemitism since October 7,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a problem in Australia before that time as well, and since Bondi,\u00a0it’s\u00a0gone to a whole new level.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Royal Commission heard on Monday that Bondi survivor Arsen Ostrovsky received a wave of abuse after images of him circulated following the attack.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
It also heard that the family of former Westfield co-chief executive Steven Lowy\u00a0received thousands of threats over the past year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mr Leeser said he was shocked by the evidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was shocked yesterday to hear Arsen Ostrovsky, a survivor of the Bondi terrorist attack, being told he was faking it,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mr Burns, who is appearing before the inquiry on Tuesday, has previously spoken publicly about threats directed at him and his office.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
His Melbourne electorate office was vandalised and firebombed in 2024, while his staff and family have also been subjected to online harassment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mr Leeser said social media companies were\u00a0failing to tackle\u00a0the problem.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the social media companies\u00a0have to\u00a0step up.\u00a0It’s\u00a0long past good enough that they excuse this behaviour,\u201d\u00a0he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said offensive accounts were\u00a0frequently\u00a0reported but action was often limited.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to Mr Leeser, his office has already pushed for hundreds of accounts to be blocked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have blocked, I think,\u00a0something like 650 accounts, but you only need to look at a post I made yesterday to see hundreds more are appearing all the time,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHundreds more engaging in antisemitic behaviour.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe social media companies have to do more here, otherwise they will face tough regulations.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mr Leeser has previously argued senior government figures should appear before the Royal Commission if requested.\u00a0<\/p>\n