Albanese says Melbourne synagogue attack ‘quite clearly’ terrorism
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has labelled the arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue an act of terrorism, as law enforcement agencies weigh up an official terror declaration.
Federal and Victorian police will meet tomorrow to discuss the incident, which took place at Ripponlea’s Adass Israel synagogue on Friday.
An official terrorism declaration, which unlocks extra policing powers, is a matter for state authorities. However, Mr Albanese said he was offering a “personal view”.
“Quite clearly terrorism is something that is aimed at creating fear in the community, and the attacks on the synagogue in Melbourne clearly were,” he said on Sunday.
“And therefore, from my personal perspective, [they] certainly fulfil that definition of terrorism.”
The comments come after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the incident was “very clearly” a terrorist attack and the PM should “have the guts to come out and say that”.
Mr Albanese said he would respect the “technical process, one which the opposition should be aware of …”
“The protocol is that the state jurisdictions who have the lead on this will make an assessment and a recommendation,” he said.
“That’s a formal process, but quite clearly this has been aimed at creating fear and that is what terrorists aim to do.”
What is a terrorist attack?
Under federal law, something is a terrorist act if it causes serious damage, is done to advance a cause, and is done “with the intention to intimidate the public”.
Establishing a motive that fits these criteria is the key threshold for state police to declare something a terrorist act.
This can happen very quickly when there is believed to be an imminent continuing threat, as in the case of the stabbing of a bishop in Sydney earlier this year.
But on other occasions, state police have taken longer to make a call, as when WA Police said a “radicalised” teenager’s stabbing attack in Perth had “the hallmarks” of terrorism but they did not initially declare it as such.
The declaration unlocks additional law enforcement capabilities including co-operation between state and federal authorities and access to overseas intelligence.
Leaders trade accusations
Mr Albanese said the attack on the synagogue was part of “a worrying rise in anti-Semitism”.
“But we call it out and we call it out consistently … People must be allowed to conduct their faith with peace and respect,” he said.
Mr Dutton accused the PM of “a deliberate decision … to play down anti-Semitism”, which he said had made the Jewish community “less safe”.
“[His] deliberate decision to seek political advantage over the course of the last 12 months on this issue and play to a domestic audience of green voters has been deplorable and one of the worst things I’ve seen in public life,” he said.
Labor minister Murray Watt said Mr Dutton was trying “to politicise and divide our community”, saying “our leaders should stand together” on their response to the synagogue attack.
Mr Albanese said the government had been “unequivocal” and cited measures to outlaw Nazi symbols and other hate symbols, criminalise “doxxing”, and appoint an anti-Semitism envoy.
He announced that a $25 million fund available to fund security measures for Jewish community sites would be extended to a second round, with an additional $32.5 million available over the next 18 months.
