Labor Party’s Anti-Semitism Crisis Deepens: Assistant Minister Vows to Expel Members Spewing Hate as Shocking Letter Reveals ‘Rising Tide’ of Bigotry
- Labor Party members who engage in anti-Semitism face expulsion as the party cracks down on hate speech
- Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite declares “hatred will not be tolerated” among party ranks
- A shocking internal letter reveals “extremely hateful language” is frequently used at branch meetings, sparking outrage
- The crisis comes as the Jewish community reels from the devastating Bondi attack that left 15 people dead and 10 injured
In a dramatic escalation of the Labor Party’s anti-Semitism crisis, Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite has vowed to expel any member found spewing hate speech, declaring “hatred will not be tolerated” among party ranks.
The bombshell comes as a shocking internal letter reveals a “rising tide of anti-Semitism” within the party, with “extremely hateful language” frequently used at branch meetings. The letter, penned by Labor’s Israel Action Committee, alleges that the vile comments are often edited out of official records, sparking outrage among party leaders.
“The penalties within our party for any form of anti-Semitism or racism include expulsion and we will not hesitate to act to ensure that anyone who expresses anti-Semitic views is expelled from our party,” Thistlethwaite told reporters on Saturday, his voice firm with determination.
Shadow attorney-general Andrew Wallace described the letter as “deeply concerning”, revealing a “troubling picture” of a party slow to act against anti-Semitism. He singled out comments by former foreign minister Bob Carr, who described an Australian Israel-Jewish lobby as a “foreign influence operation” – a trope Wallace slammed as anti-Semitic.
The crisis comes as the Jewish community reels from the devastating Bondi attack that left 15 people dead and 10 injured. Thistlethwaite vowed to support the community, saying the government will act on recommendations from the Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism.
“We owe it to Australia’s Jewish community to act now, to keep them safe and to put in place measures to ensure they are free to practise their religion and their faith in Australia in safety,” he said, his voice filled with emotion.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong also expressed her sorrow over the attack, saying “sorrow isn’t political; sorrow is felt when we go to our places of worship, when we light a candle for those lost and for those grieving, when we hold our children close”.
As the Labor Party grapples with its anti-Semitism crisis, the Jewish community remains on high alert, with 10 people still recovering in Sydney hospitals from injuries sustained in the attack. Four remain in critical condition, while the remainder are stable.