NSW Premier Chris Minns said police are conducting a “major investigation into a vicious hate crime” after a childcare centre was set alight and graffitied with an antisemitic slogan in the eastern suburbs of Sydney.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened the National Cabinet on Tuesday to address what he referred to as “the shocking rise” of antisemitic attacks. In a statement after the meeting, he announced that a national database to track antisemitic “crime and other incidents and behaviours” would be established.
“The purpose of one national reporting system is to better inform and coordinate responses,” he said.
Australian Federal Police told the meeting of state and federal leaders that they are also investigating “whether overseas actors or individuals have paid local criminals in Australia” to carry out some of the recent attacks.
“We are looking at if – or how – they have been paid, for example in cryptocurrency, which can take longer to identify,” AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said in a statement.
Police said the building in Maroubra was set alight at around 1am on Tuesday, the eighth such incident in the last three months.
When questioned by reporters, Minns denied he has “lost control”.
“These bastards will be rounded up by NSW police,” he said.
“I want to make it clear that this is atrocious.”
The childcare centre was damaged by the fire. Source: AAP / Jack Gramenz
Minns said: “We are seeing a wave of antisemitic attacks in our community.”
“It’s deeply distressing. It breaks your heart that we have animals in our city that are prepared to burn down a childcare centre to make this point.”
The childcare centre is directly around the corner from the Maroubra Synagogue on Anzac Parade.
Minns said he and Albanese had spoken to Rabbi Goldstein from the synagogue, who was “heartbroken as a result of this attack … but he knows the community in Maroubra and the eastern suburbs — whether they’re of the Jewish faith or not — are with him, and stand united against this appalling attack”.
Addressing reporters alongside Minns, Albanese said: “This attack is the latest in a series of antisemitic hate crimes.”
According to a police statement: “Fire and Rescue NSW attended and found the ground floor (of the childcare centre) well alight.”
“The blaze was extinguished, however the building sustained extensive damage.
“Offensive graffiti was also located spray painted on an external wall.”
The building was unoccupied at the time of the attack and there are no reports of injuries.
Call for mandatory jail terms
Speaking at Bondi Central Synagogue on Monday, Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton announced his plan for tougher laws to combat antisemitism. Meanwhile, Albanese urged Australian activists to remain calm during the six-week ceasefire in Gaza.
Terrorism offences would attract a minimum of six years in jail under the Coalition’s proposed laws, while those displaying terrorist organisation signs, Nazi symbols or performing a Nazi salute would face at least a year behind bars.
Greg Barns, spokesperson for the Australian Lawyers Alliance, said there was no evidence mandatory sentences deterred offenders.
“Furthermore, mandatory jail terms lead to injustice,” he said.
“They force courts to impose sentences where the circumstances do not warrant it because of the nature of offending or the background of the offender.”
