The co-chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism have called on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to take stronger measures to protect the country’s Jewish community. In a letter sent Monday, ten lawmakers urged the Australian government to implement recommendations made by its antisemitism envoy following an attack that killed at least 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration.
The letter stated, “comes in the wake of the Australian Jewish community repeatedly raising the alarm and urging swift action to counter the spread of unchecked antisemitic rhetoric and demonstrations occurring in Australia for far too long.” The lawmakers highlighted repeated warning signs such as firebombings of synagogues, graffiti, assaults, and threats of violence, which they said “have now led to a tragic reality.”
Jillian Segal, Australia’s special envoy to combat antisemitism, released 49 recommendations in July aimed at various institutions. The lawmakers questioned what steps have been taken by the government to enact these recommendations and how it plans to protect the Jewish community moving forward. They called on Albanese to “move swiftly and decisively” in implementing these proposals.
The letter continued: “While we appreciate Australia joining the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism led by the United States, we urge your government to implement and actively utilize this document and its recommendations within. We also encourage you to further insulate Australia from malign foreign influence, like that of Iran and possibly others, which has been found to be supporting antisemitic attacks in Australia.”
It also noted that designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp as a terrorist organization is “an important first step,” but added that more needs to be done if Australia is to address domestic antisemitism and prevent foreign collusion.
Signatories included Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Don Bacon (R-NE), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Randy Weber (R-TX), Marc Veasey (D-TX) and Dan Meuser (R-PA).
Chris Smith is currently serving in Congress representing New Jersey’s 4th district since 1981 after replacing Frank Thompson. He was born in Rahway, New Jersey in 1953 and resides in Manchester Township. Smith graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975.
The article was originally published on December 16, 2025 at https://jewishinsider.com/2025/12/house-lawmakers-australia-hanukkah-massacre-antisemitism-albanese/
