In a scathing and urgent public rebuke, political commentator Greg Sheridan has erupted over Prime Minister Albanese’s government, branding its response to rising anti-semitism in Australia as “appalling, woeful, and culpable.” The criticism highlights alarming governmental failures amid increasing threats and violence against Jewish communities nationwide.
Greg Sheridan, Australia’s foremost foreign affairs editor, unleashed a vehement attack on the Albanese government’s handling of anti-semitism during a recent Sky News appearance. His condemnation was not mild criticism but a full-scale indictment, describing the government’s efforts as not just inadequate but dangerously negligent in confronting a growing national crisis.
Anti-semitism is not a distant memory or marginal issue in Australia—it is surging, intensifying its deadly grip on communities across the country. Sheridan’s words underscore a stark reality: Australian Jews are increasingly vulnerable, threatened by hateful violence with what he calls “woeful” governmental inaction allowing the “cancer” to spread unchecked.
Just four months ago, a warning letter was sent directly to Prime Minister Albanese, highlighting how policy decisions, notably calls for a Palestinian state, were fueling anti-semitic sentiment and violence. The letter implored the government to pivot from appeasement to decisive action, but critics say the government replaced weakness with further weakness.
The recent spike in anti-semitic attacks not only threatens lives but also erodes Australia’s multicultural identity. The government’s muted response—characterized by empty rhetoric and a lack of enforceable actions—has left Jewish communities feeling abandoned and unsafe in their own homeland, igniting widespread outrage and despair.
Despite promises of unity and fairness by the Albanese administration, Sheridan’s critique exposes a stark disconnect between rhetoric and reality. Press conferences and statements of concern have failed to translate into stronger laws or effective enforcement. For many, political theater has replaced meaningful protection against hate-fueled violence.
The crux of the issue lies in the government’s hesitancy to enact robust measures to combat hate crimes. Other nations have successfully implemented educational programs and beefed up legislation, yet Australia lags dangerously behind, relying on vague assurances rather than solid reform or engagement with affected communities.
This failure to act squarely places the Albanese government in the spotlight—not merely as negligent, but as culpable, bearing direct responsibility for the consequences of its indifference. As anti-semitic incidents escalate, so does the government’s accountability for protecting all Australians from extremist threats and communal hatred.
Sheridan lauded a brave Muslim man who prevented a terrorist attack on innocent Jews, highlighting the community’s vulnerability and the urgent need for government action. Such heroism underscores the gravity of the threat—government leadership must rise to meet this moment or face historical condemnation for permitting hatred to fester.
Jewish community leaders and advocates have repeatedly raised alarms, presenting evidence and calls for change. Yet, the government’s slow, insufficient response has frustrated many, leaving questions about political calculations, fears of alienating voters, or sheer incompetence fueling ongoing inaction—a dangerous status quo worsening daily.
The repercussions extend beyond domestic politics. Australia’s international reputation as a diverse, tolerant nation hangs in the balance. When a respected foreign policy expert castigates national leadership over anti-semitism, global observers take note, placing additional pressure on the government to enact urgent reforms and restore trust in their commitment.
At stake is much more than policy—it’s about protecting real people: families, children, neighbors whose daily lives have been disrupted by hate crimes and public hostility. The government’s failure to provide safety and security fractures social cohesion and challenges the core Australian values of fairness, respect, and equality.
The government now faces a critical choice between continued hesitation and decisive leadership. This means acknowledging the problem fully, engaging meaningfully with the Jewish community, and instituting comprehensive legal and educational frameworks to uproot prejudice and punish perpetrators effectively and swiftly.
Sheridan’s damning assessment serves as a clarion call: governments worldwide are expected to defend minorities fiercely against hate and violence, not fall prey to complacency. Australia must not be an exception. The Albanese government’s current trajectory threatens to embolden extremists, with severe consequences forecast if urgent action is not taken.
Time is undeniably running out. Every delay permits anti-semitism to grow, exposes more Australians to harm, and chips away at the nation’s sense of shared security and justice. Political leadership that ignores these warnings risks historic failure, judged harshly by those it was elected to protect and by posterity alike.
Australia’s Jewish community deserves more than empty platitudes—they deserve robust protection and respect. The government’s current approach, characterized by symbolic gestures without substantive policy, has left many feeling invisible and vulnerable. This gap between words and action must be bridged immediately if trust is to be restored.
In conclusion, Greg Sheridan’s explosive critique underscores an urgent national crisis. The Albanese government must abandon its lethargy and confront anti-semitism with the seriousness it demands. Australia’s democracy, social fabric, and human decency depend on it. The time to act is now—hesitation isn’t just dangerous; it’s unforgivable.