Former Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has launched a scathing critique of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government, holding it personally responsible for a surge in antisemitism he claims led to a deadly terrorist attack in Sydney.
Vigil Attack on Government Inaction
Speaking at a vigil for the victims at Bondi Pavilion, where he laid flowers, Frydenberg delivered a blistering assessment. He asserted that Mr Albanese must take 'personal responsibility' for what he labelled a preventable tragedy.
The attack occurred on Sunday night at the eastern Sydney beach. Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid Akram, 50, are alleged to have opened fire from a footbridge onto a Hanukkah celebration. The shooting resulted in the deaths of 15 people.
Unchecked Rhetoric and Radicalisation
Frydenberg's condemnation focused on the Prime Minister's response, or lack thereof, to community tensions since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. He accused the government of failing to crack down on hate preachers and extremist rhetoric circulating within Australia.
He specifically cited comments made by Islamic leader Sheikh Ibrahim Dadoun at a rally in Lakemba on October 8. At that event, the day after the Hamas attacks, Dadoun told the crowd the violence was an act of resistance, stating: 'I'm smiling and I'm happy... it's a day of courage, it's a day of pride, it's a day of victory.'
Frydenberg argued that allowing such rhetoric to go unchallenged has dangerously fuelled radicalisation. 'Australia has been radicalised in an unprecedented way in the last two-and-a-half years under your watch,' he declared directly to the Prime Minister.
A Call for Accountability and Action
Connecting this perceived permissive environment to the Bondi violence, Frydenberg posed a pointed question: 'For two and a half years, what has the Muslim community been hearing? Is anyone surprised by what happened?'
His speech represents a significant political intervention, demanding urgent and concrete action from the Albanese government to confront antisemitism and monitor extremist speech more aggressively. The former Treasurer's call underscores deepening concerns about community safety and social cohesion in the wake of the international conflict and domestic terror incident.
