PM Says Its ‘Unclear’ Which Foreign Actors Paying for Local Antisemitic Attacks

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks to media during a doorstop event in the Gympie Region in central Queensland in Australia on Jan. 6, 2025. AAP Image/Russell Freeman

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has responded to Australian Federal Police (AFP) reports that some antisemitic hate crimes in Australia are being perpetrated by foreign entities paying local criminals.

On Jan. 22, Albanese spoke to media, but revealed little extra detail.

“It is important that people understand where some of these attacks are coming from, and it would appear, as the AFP commissioner said yesterday, that some of these are being perpetrated by people who don’t have a particular issue, aren’t motivated by an ideology, but are paid actors,” he said.

“It’s unclear who or where the payments are coming from.

“I will leave the work of the AFP to be done by the AFP. They’ll continue to provide appropriate briefings, but with respect, I understand the desire for more information.”

The AFP revealed the criminals could be getting paid in cryptocurrency, which is harder to trace than standard monetary transactions.

On ABC Radio Sydney, Albanese defended his government’s decision to diverge from the United States on U.N. motions regarding Israel, appearing to distance the voting stance from the violent spate of attacks on Jewish communities.

In December, Australia backed a resolution for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and another for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.

When asked about the opposition’s claims that Labor’s approach had increased antisemitism in Australia, Albanese said his government had sided with the majority of other nations.

“Well, these are hate crimes and we shouldn’t deny the agency of the perpetrators of these crimes,” he said.

“And that’s what suggesting that Australia’s policy at the United Nations, where we’ve voted along with 158 countries for what is happening now, a ceasefire, hostages being released and increased aid into Gaza.

“It is important to recognise that that is overwhelmingly where the world has been, including all of our Five Eyes partners, with the exception of the U.S., for some period of time.”

Albanese reiterated that the attacks had been “criminal activities.”

“There is substantial evidence as outlined by Commissioner Kershaw yesterday evening as well,” he said.

In recent months, attacks on Australia’s Jewish community have included graffiti and arson attacks on cars, homes, and businesses.

Police Now Playing Catch Up

But not everyone is in agreeance with Labor’s approach.

Former AFP Detective Superintendent David Craig told Sunrise on Jan. 22 that Labor had allowed antisemitism to fester in Australia.

Palestine supporters rally outside the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 9, 2023. Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

He said the prime minister had not acted soon enough following the Sydney Opera House demonstration on Oct. 9, 2023, two days after the Hamas attack on Israel.

“For a start, we should have drawn a line in the sand of that disgusting protest of our national icon, the Opera House, by Palestinian people chanting racist hate speech right there on our icon,” he said.

Craig said the presence of hostile actors was a constant, but it had been the lax attitude of government that had allowed it to fester.

“Any of these very radical Palestinian protesters are prone to this type of activity—it’s nothing new in Australia,” he said.

“The difference now is that we’ve allowed so much intolerance to go on in this sphere that now [police] are trying to play catch-up.

“The national cabinet meeting yesterday was months too late.”

Senator James Patterson called for transparency.

“It is a gravely serious claim to suggest foreign actors may be behind the spate of terror attacks targeting the Jewish community,” he said.

“The prime minister must urgently clarify what he knows about it and what action he will take to address it.”