A furious Josh Frydenberg has directed a blistering critique at Anthony Albanese over the government's handling of antisemitism in the lead-up to the Bondi Beach shooting, while calling for a royal commission into the terror attack.
The former Liberal treasurer, who is Jewish, gave a fiery speech at Bondi this afternoon calling for greater action from governments in the wake of the shooting, which killed 15 innocent people.
"This massacre at Bondi is the greatest stain on this nation," Frydenberg said.
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"I'm here to mourn, but I am also here to warn: unless our governments, federal and state, take urgent, unprecedented and strong action, as night follows day, we will be back grieving the loss of innocent life in another terrorist attack in our country."
Frydenberg also went as far as to single out the prime minister for having failed Jewish Australians.
"Our prime minister, our government, has allowed Australia to be radicalised on his watch," he said.
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"It is time for him to accept personal responsibility for the death of the 15 innocent people, including a 10-year-old child.
"It is time our prime minister accepted accountability for what has happened here. And it's time our leaders stood up and led at last. This is a time for accountability and action."
Albanese has faced significant criticism since the attack over the government's response to antisemitism, but Frydenberg's remarks have escalated the debate.
Former prime minister John Howard – who, like Frydenberg, hails from the Liberal Party – has also criticised Albanese but said only the shooters are responsible for their actions.
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"Clearly the people to blame for the murders are the murderers… (Albanese's) greatest failure is not to provide the moral leadership that a prime minister can in denouncing antisemitism," he said yesterday.
In response to Frydenberg's comments, Foreign Minister Penny Wong defended the government's response, saying it has denounced antisemitism and took action against rising levels of hate, but conceded more now needs to be done.
"The Jewish Australian community is mourning and so too is the whole of the country," she told the ABC.
"This is a time that we need to come together because this attack was inspired by an ideology that is seeking to divide us; a radical, extreme view which seeks to divide our country."
Frydenberg also said a royal commission into the attack and the rise of antisemitism needed to be called immediately.
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"We here deserve answers," Frydenberg said.
"We don't need pious words of comfort, we need answers."
That was one of eight suggestions to act against antisemitism the former treasurer gave the government.
They also included investing in education, and banning "hate preachers" and "extremist organisations", pointing in particular to Hizb-ut-Tahrir, the radical Islamist organisation that was banned in the United Kingdom last year and in Germany in 2003.
He also called for the government to fully implement the recommendations made in July by Jillian Segal, the special envoy to combat antisemitism appointed by Albanese.
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The government hasn't formally responded to that report – which itself has been criticised, with one human rights expert saying it had "biased arguments, weak evidence and recommendation overreach" – but has adopted some of the recommendations.
"We have taken action that she recommended, such as criminalising hate speech, and symbols including the Nazi salute," Wong said.
"We've taken action, including my expulsion of the Iranian ambassador, when it was clear that Iran had connections to the attack on a synagogue here in Australia.
"But we all know more needs to be done and we have to work together – our government, all levels of government, faith leaders, community leaders – to eradicate antisemitism, this hatred, from any part of the Australian community."
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Frydenberg's successor, current Treasurer Jim Chalmers, announced an extra $104 million in the federal budget for extra security at Jewish events and crisis support services.
He said the government would consider Frydenberg's suggestions.
"I have a lot of respect for Josh Frydenberg… I don't doubt the intensity or the sincerity of his views," Chalmers said.
"And we take them seriously. He, like a lot of Australians, is mourning and is grieving.
"And we will take suggestions from him or from other members of the community very seriously."
If you have been impacted by the terror attack in Bondi, there is support available.
To contact Lifeline Australia, call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14.
For people under 25 years old, you can contact Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800.
Both of these are available on a 24/7 basis.
If you wish to donate blood, you can find your nearest donor centre here.
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