Q: Is Iran the major player when it comes to the anti-Semitic attacks?

Mike Burgess:

If you go back to the 7 October 2023, we saw the rise in tension and emotion and we saw protest, most of that our great country was peaceful, but some threatening intimidating actions at that time. But it was on October 24 that we saw that transition. I’m on the record as saying this, from threatening and intimidating behaviours to direct targeting of people, businesses and places of worship. Iran started the first of those. But not all of those are directed by Iran in our view.

Q: Is the government in any way considering this to be an attack from the nation of Iran on the nation of Australia? Or is it more considered to be an attack on the Jewish community, an act of terrorism?

Anthony Albanese:

Any attack on our social cohesion is an attack on Australia. We are proud of the country that we’ve built. A country where people can live overwhelmingly side by side of different faith, of different background, in harmony. We cherish it. We protect it. We defend it. And that’s what we’re doing here today.

Is it criminal gangs?

Mike Burgess:

Not in my view. These are cut-outs all the way through. That was offshore. But they have connections to Australia, obviously.