We’re all owed equal protection under the law, but we’ve excluded Jews

The cornerstones of a free society are democracy and the rule of law. The corollaries are peace, order and good government as enshrined in section 51 of the Australian Constitution, and equality before the law.
As the High Court has stated, equal justice “requires, so far as the law permits, that like cases be treated alike”. As beneficiaries of a liberal democracy preserved at great cost by our forebears, we understood these foundational truths from generation to generation until the neo-Marxists took hold of our universities and inculcated the belief in our children that might is right – that you can force your will on others by violence and abuse.
Jews have been an integral part of Australian society since European settlement in 1788, contributing enormously to the development of modern Australia, an impact far beyond their numbers in law, medicine, politics, the arts – you name it. They are owed equal protection under the law and arguably, until the terrible events of October 7, they received it.
Anti-Semitism is a misnomer. Semitic denotes a family of languages that includes Hebrew, Arabic and Aramaic people and is not restricted to Jews. It should be called for what it is – a deranged hatred of Jews.
The Hamas attacks – its torture, massacre and kidnapping of Israeli citizens – was a watershed moment. It is bad enough that Jews have suffered vile abuse and vicious threats by the cultural barbarians, the radical academics and neo-Marxist anarchists, the profoundly ignorant and the attention seekers who have coalesced to take over our streets and occupy our university campuses ostensibly to support Gaza.
Worse is that Jews have been abandoned by those charged with enforcing the rule of law and equal protection: by governments, by police and by the so-called human rights and racial vilification bodies.
Having worked alongside police for decades in royal commissions, crime authorities and investigative taskforces and there having met some of the finest and most dedicated people I have known, I find myself shocked to the core to observe the present cohort fail to lift a finger to deal with this new thuggery sweeping the nation.
Commentators in the thinking media have remarked on the contrast between how governments and police enforced the dictates of the medical bureaucrats during Covid pandemic restrictions (often with excessive force, especially in Victoria) and the almost total absence of enforcement of laws to respond to the vituperative, hate-filled rants, threats, vandalism and vilification directed at Jews.
False excuses have been given for this shameful inaction – an inexcusable dereliction of duty brought about by moral cowardice. As I experienced at the Bar, these laws work to protect the hurt feelings of members of protected categories but not criminal actions against Jews.
A serious attempt to enforce the hate and anti-vilification laws mandated by a responsible government would send a clear message across Australian society that such behaviour is unacceptable and would of itself tame such behaviour.
At the same time, it would highlight any shortcoming in laws that needed remedying.
Since Federation, prime ministers have played a critical role in arguing for, developing and implementing government policies that have shaped Australia. In a representative democracy the primary duty of the prime minister is to protect the people: all, not some.
Today’s acts of hatred, intimidation and violence directed against a racial group are not unprecedented. During the 1960s and ’70s sectional violence erupted in Australia between immigrant groups, reflecting inter­necine strife emanating from what was then Yugoslavia. An ASIO special report across the period from 1969 to 1972 substantiated the scale of terrorist activity by these groups.
About 175 attacks were recorded, some of which included the use of explosives and incendiaries. The main culprits were the Ustashi Croatian fascist movement, although other groups also were involved. Under prime minister Gough Whitlam and attorney-general Lionel Murphy, the government made clear that bringing old hatreds into our community was unacceptable. They ensured the laws were enforced by taking a hardline approach; they provided for the proper resourcing of, and collaboration between, ASIO and the Commonwealth Police (later the Australian Federal Police).
Subsequent governments continued the pressure. Within a decade the strife had been largely overcome. I speak from personal knowledge, having been involved in relevant cases, and the lessons were clear: previous governments had allowed the problem to fester; and strong direction, support and resourcing of law enforcement were required, along with many years of committed effort.
Where is Anthony Albanese on today’s racial strife, which is far more widespread and potentially far more dangerous?
While this Jew hatred is accelerating and hurtling towards a disaster, there is scant leadership to combat it. Last week’s desultory effort by the Prime Minister (albeit rightly condemning the Greens) after months of mouthing occasional platitudes doesn’t cut it. Indeed, it seemed more a response to the attack on electorate offices, including Albanese’s, than the underlying rampant Jew hatred. Perhaps Albanese also could look to the example of another Labor prime minister, Bob Hawke, to draw inspiration as to how to deal with the crisis.
Hawke knew his country and his people and understood their ethos – mateship and a fair go. He warned: “If the bell tolls for Israel, it won’t just toll for Israel, it will toll for all mankind.”
In 2007, cabinet papers were released revealing that in 1975 ASIO recorded a plan by Palestinian terrorists to assassinate Hawke for his support of Israel, along with several high-profile Jewish figures including Israeli ambassador Michael Elizur.
Albanese must know this history from his official briefings. In this context, by his failure to commit to urgent and serious action to rein in this rampant Jew hatred, his government is complicit and playing with fire. This contagion of Jew hatred is expanding exponentially; from past experience it soon will become difficult to control. The blood libels and racial tropes that have bedevilled the Jewish people for more than a millennium are being resurrected. Last week we had the spectacle of anti-Semitic activists in the defence force, and the week before, the public service.
To avoid a future tragedy, Albanese must act with commitment, vigour and courage. Let him hearken to his own words emblazoned across his prime ministerial website before it’s too late: “The vision that drove my mum is the vision that drives me – a fairer country with a brighter future for all Australians. Now let’s build it – together.”