Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison has accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of failing to provide national leadership on antisemitism, claiming the government is attempting to deflect blame by criticising Coalition policies from 2018 to 2022.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Mr Morrison said the Prime Minister’s comments were a “pathetic” attempt to shift responsibility and strongly defended his own record, arguing Australia’s relationship with Israel was at a “high water mark” during his term in office.
He cited close personal engagement with successive Israeli prime ministers, the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, the designation of Islamist groups as terrorist organisations, support for Israel at the United Nations, recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and enhanced counter-terrorism programs within Home Affairs. Mr Morrison also pointed to increased funding for Holocaust museums and additional security funding for Jewish community facilities.
Mr Morrison accused the Albanese government of abandoning more than seven decades of bipartisan policy on Israel and Palestinian statehood after winning office in May 2022, claiming it dismantled key security programs designed to protect vulnerable communities and removed senior security agency heads from the National Security Committee.
He was particularly critical of the government’s response to the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel, saying it failed to demonstrate national leadership and allowed antisemitism to flourish domestically. Mr Morrison claimed antisemitic incidents increased fivefold, culminating in the extremist Islamist attack in Bondi in December, which he said left the Australian Jewish community devastated.
“Hamas never praised the actions of my government, but they did praise Mr Albanese’s government,” Mr Morrison said, referring to Hamas.
He said his support for the Jewish community and opposition to antisemitism were “instinctive” and grounded in lifelong beliefs, contrasting this with what he described as politically driven instincts guiding the current Prime Minister.
Mr Morrison confirmed he will travel to Jerusalem later this week at the invitation of the Israeli government to attend an international conference on antisemitism alongside global leaders, ministers and Israeli President Isaac Herzog. He also recalled visiting Israel shortly after the October 7 attacks with former UK prime minister Boris Johnson, describing the visit as a show of solidarity with Israel and Australia’s Jewish community.
The criticism was echoed and expanded by former prime minister Tony Abbott, who launched a sustained attack on the Albanese government over its newly passed hate speech laws, questioning whether the legislation would have any real impact on rising antisemitism.
Speaking to Sky News Australia, Mr Abbott said he had “no confidence” in the government’s willingness or capacity to confront what he described as Jew hatred, accusing it of treating antisemitism as a political problem rather than a moral evil.
“I just don’t trust this government when it comes to combating Jew hatred,” Mr Abbott said, backing comments by Opposition Leader Sussan Ley that the issue had been managed for political convenience rather than tackled decisively.
Mr Abbott questioned whether the hate speech laws, passed this week with Liberal Party support but opposed by the Nationals, clearly defined what constituted hate speech or explained how the measures would change behaviour. He warned that legislation drafted and passed quickly risked expanding government powers without delivering meaningful outcomes.
“The test is simple,” he said.
“Are these laws actually going to change the climate of antisemitism that has afflicted this country over the last two years?”
He also expressed concern that the government was effectively shifting responsibility to the courts, arguing judges needed clearer direction from Parliament. “Unelected and unaccountable judges need a much clearer statement from elected and accountable parliamentarians,” Mr Abbott said.
Mr Abbott went further, claiming the Albanese government was “absolutely terrified” to confront radical Islam, particularly in the wake of the Bondi attack, which he said was carried out in the name of extremist ideology. He criticised what he described as a reluctance to challenge community leaders and called for greater accountability.
The former prime minister also urged a reassessment of Australia’s immigration and multiculturalism policies, arguing authorities should more rigorously screen visa applicants for extremist views. He said individuals who openly supported the caliphate or Sharia law should not be granted long-term visas.
Mr Abbott said Australia had a right and duty to protect its cultural values, warning that bringing in large numbers of people hostile to those values risked social cohesion. He argued that clearer expectations were needed for those already living in Australia to actively uphold Australian values rather than merely paying them lip service.
Nationals Senator Matt Canavan has also criticised the legislation, citing what he described as significant flaws and signalling he would not support the bill.
The Albanese government has defended the hate speech laws as a necessary response to rising incidents of hate crime, arguing they strike an appropriate balance between protecting communities and safeguarding civil liberties.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
