Clare says Dutton using flag comments to distract from losing two big policies
Jason Clare was also asked about opposition leader Peter Dutton’s comments regarding the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and said this was merely “a distraction”. The education minister said:
In the last two weeks he’s lost two senior members of this team – the leader of the Liberals in the Senate, and the leader of opposition business in the House.
He’s also lost two of his big policies. You know, he promised tax cuts and now he’s broken that promise. He promised to cut migration, now he’s broken this promise. He’s breaking promises before he’s even elected. This is like buying a second-hand car and it breaks down before it even leaves the lot. What this shows is that Peter Dutton is not ready to govern.
Key events
Greens senator David Shoebridge has issued a statement on X about the anti-Israel graffiti in Woollahra overnight:
This is an appalling attack and is the second time we have seen it in this part of Sydney. These attacks have absolutely no place in our society.
Ladies Lounge to reopen at Mona after court win
Artist Kirsha Kaechele says the Ladies Lounge installation at Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art will reopen for a month of celebration.
Mona won an appeal in the state’s supreme court in a bid to continue barring men from entering the installation, after a tribunal decision previously found the museum had engaged in gender discrimination.
A statement confirmed that the space would open from 19 December until 13 January at Mona – with entry for ladies, and exclusion for men, included as part of the museum entry ticket.
Kaechele said in a statement: “Welcome back, ladies.”
Through the court case, the Ladies Lounge has transcended the art museum and come to life. People from all over the world have been invited to contemplate the experiences of women throughout history and today. It is time to celebrate in the place where it all began – with the dedicated adoration of our butlers and copious amounts of champagne to toast this incredible chapter!
The physical expression of the Ladies Lounge at Mona is coming to an end, but the Ladies Lounge is a living artwork. It could appear anywhere at any time, especially in centres of male power.
Man arrested after woman’s body found in south-west Sydney
A man has been arrested after the body of a woman was located in Sydney’s south-west.
Police were called to a home in Belmore about 7.50am this morning following a concern for welfare. Officers located the body of a woman, who has not been formally identified but is believed to be in her 30s.
A crime scene was established and an investigation into the incident commenced.
Following inquiries, officers attended a Denham Court residence and arrested a 35-year-old man. He was taken to Campbeltown police station, where he is assisting police with inquiries, a statement from NSW police said.
The investigation is ongoing.
Benita Kolovos
‘Deep reflection’ required from PM and government – Ryvchin
Alex Ryvchin accused the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, of “presiding over the most steep increase in anti semitism in Australian history”.
Ryvchin, the co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, told the media:
There’s a lot of anger in the Jewish community at the moment, particularly after what happened here a few days ago, there’s a sense that we as a society, and particularly the federal government, have allowed this to occur.
The government has presided over the most steep increase in antisemitism in Australian history and the greatest increase in one year anywhere in the civilised world. And the fact that this has been allowed to happen, the fact that we’ve seen that we’ve seen this progression from mobs in the streets and burning flags, burning cars, burning synagogues, this is something that requires deep reflection on the part of the prime minister and the government.
Benita Kolovos
Asked if he had spoken to anyone within the eastern Sydney Jewish community, Alex Ryvchin said his family lived in the area and was frightened.
This is my own community and speaking to my wife this morning, she was very anxious. She was frightened. You know, seeing extra security guards at our youngest daughter’s preschool, upgraded security measures are in place at all facilities in the eastern suburbs.
And the fact that this is necessary in Sydney, Australia in our time, that the response has to be over and over again increased security measures, higher walls, higher fences, more guards, it’s an indictment on our society. This should not be allowed to happen.
‘Stand with us against this hatred’, Jewish leader says
Benita Kolovos
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive, Alex Ryvchin, has also been holding a press conference – outside the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea, Melbourne, which was firebombed last Friday.
Responding to anti-Israel graffiti in Woollahra in Sydney overnight, he said:
The Jewish community has again this morning, woken up to devastation. We’ve seen more burning cars, more broken glass, and more scenes designed to terrorise and intimidate and threaten our community. After the attack on this synagogue a few days ago, my organisation appealed to the prime minister with urgent requests to address this antisemitism crisis.
Ryvchin said he was now appealing directly to Australians:
These sorts of crimes are intended to rip our society apart. They are intended to drive a wedge between Jewish Australians and our fellow Australians. Don’t let them do it. I ask that you please stand with us in solidarity. Stand with us against this hatred. We are one people, one country and we cannot allow this terror to prevail.
Chris Minns said he spoke with Israel’s ambassador to Australia about the graffiti this morning and “made it very clear to him that we regarded this as a disgusting display of antisemitism”.
… and that the vast, vast majority of people that live in NSW are horrified by it and recognise Israel as an ally and a friend of Australia. Now, I want to make that clear and unambiguous, said that to him directly this morning, and I hope to have further conversations with him later today.
Will there be random patrols in a particular area?
Karen Webb said there would “certainly [be an increase in] patrols based on where community concern is”.
Certainly there has been an increase in reports of hatred in the eastern area of Sydney, in the southern eastern areas of Sydney, and we respond to that. We will respond to what is asked of us.
Would this include outside Jewish sites? Webb responded “of course”.
Karen Webb was asked to outline what the increase in resourcing for Operation Shelter actually means. She said it would include “increased patrols, increased engagement with the community [and a] very high, visible police presence”.
We are taking police and dedicating them to the operation … so police will be out there, the community can expect to see officers that will come up and speak to people … But this Operation Shelter uptick will be about dedicating resources in areas of concern and engage members in all parts of the community.
Chris Minns said alleged offenders would face “very serious charges” and this “does act as a deterrent”.
I’m not coming here and promising an end to antisemitic acts, hatred, violence in our community, it would be irresponsible of me to do it. What I can say is we’re taking it very seriously.
Minns not ‘closing the door to changes to the law’
Asked if there is more the state government can do, Chris Minns said “yes”, and that he was not “closing the door to changes to the law.”
Australia doesn’t have the free speech laws that are in place in America and for one very important reason, because we have developed a multicultural community where doesn’t matter what your faith or your religion is, you must live side by side with your neighbour in peace.
And if we need laws in place to protect what has been built over multiple decades and make sure that people feel safe in Australia, that’s what we will do.
We cannot have a situation where we are importing conflicts around the world onto the streets of Sydney and saying, ‘well, it’s just inevitable because something happened on the other side of the world’. That is not going to be the case in Australia and, frankly, the way we hold our community together can’t rest on the worst actor, the baddest faith actor in our community acting up and all of us turning a blind eye. Multiculturalism will not survive like that.
Minns says he is ‘concerned’ about ‘rising attacks’
Taking questions, the NSW premier Chris Minns said he is “concerned” about “the rising attacks and outright antisemitism” on the streets of Sydney “and other capital cities across Australia”.
I don’t think there’s any point in sugar coating it or downplaying it. This isn’t just a random act of destruction, this was specifically designed to – in my view – incite hate, and intimidate the Jewish community in Sydney.
He said the state government was working closely with the Jewish community regarding synagogues and places of worship, “particularly in the run-up to Hanukkah”.
Jewish community ‘outraged, appalled, saddened’ – David Ossip
David Ossip, president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, said the community was “outraged, we are appalled and we are deeply saddened by what transpired in Woollahra”.
Addressing the media alongside police and the premier, he said:
The message to the [alleged] perpetrators and all who wish ill on the Jewish community is that the Jewish community is strong, it is proud, it is united and it will not be cowed by these attempts to intimidate and harass us.
Police do not believe two Woollahra incidents linked
Assistant commissioner Peter McKenna said police did not believe the two attacks in Woollahra were linked.
He also said the vehicle that was set on fire was “actually the vehicle the [alleged] offenders came in”.
Webb gives more details on Operation Shelter
As Chris Minns flagged a moment ago, Karen Webb said Operation Shelter would return to its post-7 October operational settings.
That means there will be community engagement, prevention, response into all matters reported to us, but importantly engaging with the community.
She described what occurred in Woollahra as “disgusting” and said “we will be using all our resources to investigate this matter”.
‘Full police response’ to Woollahra attack under way – commissioner
The NSW police commissioner, Karen Webb, is addressing the media alongside Chris Minns.
She said police were called to the graffiti and a car on fire, and alleged two men in disguise were seen running from the location – “we believe in their late teens, early 20s”.
A full police response is under way and it commenced immediately, with local, regional and terrorism police being called out last night. There are still a very active crime scene investigation at that location in Woollahra and police have been working around the clock to follow all leads. It will be an extensive investigation and it will take time.
Minns announces boost to police operation
The NSW premier Chris Minns is addressing the media following the anti-Israel graffiti in Woollahra overnight.
He described this as “a violent act of destruction, clearly antisemitic, designed to strike fear into the community that lives in this part of Sydney”.
I want to make it clear that this is antithetical and completely opposite to the kind of community and society we want in Australia in 2024. This violent act will be met with a full response from NSW police.
Minns also announced that NSW police’s Operation Shelter – launched in 2023 to coordinate the police response to protests in the state – would have “operationally the same level of resources that were in place on October 7”.
This is a full response across New South Wales to ensure that the public feel safe at a time of heightened community tension.
