Key Takeaways:
- The federal Opposition has put its migration policy on hold following the Bondi Beach mass shooting
- The Opposition will instead focus on forming an antisemitism and counter-terrorism taskforce
- The taskforce will comprise senior Opposition politicians and will hold talks with antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal
- The attack on Bondi Beach has sparked a debate on immigration, antisemitism, and gun control
- The Prime Minister has said his government is acting on recommendations from the antisemitism envoy’s report
Introduction to the Debate
The federal Opposition has made a significant decision to put its contentious migration policy on hold, following the devastating mass shooting at Bondi Beach on Sunday. The policy, which was expected to be released before the end of the year, aimed to address the issue of high migration levels in Australia. However, in light of the recent attack, Opposition leader Sussan Ley has decided to prioritize the formation of an antisemitism and counter-terrorism taskforce. This move comes as a response to the growing concerns about social cohesion and the need to address the root causes of such violent attacks.
The Bondi Beach Attack
The attack on Bondi Beach, which resulted in the loss of 16 lives, has sent shockwaves across the nation. The alleged shooters, Naveed Akram and his father Sajid Akram, were found to have ties to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group. The discovery of homemade IS flags in a car registered to the younger Akram has led police to believe that the attack was motivated by IS terrorist ideology. The attack has sparked a debate on immigration, with some politicians calling for a discussion on Australian values and the need for immigrants to assimilate into society. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and Liberal backbencher Andrew Hastie have been vocal about the need for a debate on immigration, with Hanson stating that "people coming here, are they going to join and be Australian and want to be Australian to assimilate in our society?"
The Opposition’s Response
In response to the attack, Ley has decided to put the migration policy on ice, citing concerns that a fresh debate could be inflammatory at an extremely sensitive time. Instead, the Opposition will focus on forming an antisemitism and counter-terrorism taskforce, comprising senior Opposition politicians. The taskforce will hold talks with antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal and will work towards implementing the government’s own antisemitism envoy’s report in full. Ley has stated that "the terrorist attack at Bondi was an attack on the Jewish community and an attack on Australia itself. It was a line crossed that cannot be ignored." The taskforce’s members will include Ley and senators Michaela Cash, Jonno Duniam, James Paterson, and Bridget McKenzie, as well as MPs Julian Leeser and Andrew Wallace.
The Government’s Response
The government has also responded to the attack, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stating that his government is acting on recommendations from Segal’s report. However, former prime minister John Howard has warned that a federal push to tighten gun laws risked being a "diversion" to countering antisemitism. Howard stated that "I do not want this debate, post this horrible event, [for] the focus on guns to be used as a pretext to avoid the broader debate about the spread of hatred of Jewish people and antisemitism." NSW Premier Chris Minns has argued that the attack justified a response across both issues, stating that "I think taking one action is not enough."
The Way Forward
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the Bondi Beach attack, it is clear that a comprehensive approach is needed to address the issues of antisemitism, immigration, and gun control. The Opposition’s decision to form an antisemitism and counter-terrorism taskforce is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to ensure that such attacks do not happen again. The government’s response, including the implementation of the antisemitism envoy’s report, is also crucial in addressing the root causes of antisemitism. Ultimately, a bipartisan approach is needed to tackle these complex issues and ensure that Australia remains a safe and inclusive society for all. The taskforce’s work will be crucial in shaping the nation’s response to antisemitism and counter-terrorism, and its recommendations will be closely watched by the public and the government.
