Prime Minister pledges financial support to rebuild Melbourne synagogue after arson attack

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The prime minister has pledged financial support to help rebuild a synagogue in Melbourne, that was the scene of Friday’s arson attack. Anthony Albanese was heckled during the at times chaotic visit.

Transcript

00:00At the scene of an arson attack in the heart of Melbourne's Jewish community, the Prime

00:09Minister welcomed at a place of worship.

00:12You were inside.

00:13It was terrific.

00:14Why were you here at that time in the morning?

00:18Anthony Albanese seeing the damage first hand, joined by community leaders and Labor MP Josh

00:24Burns, himself the target of anti-Semitic attacks, vowing to help rebuild the synagogue

00:31after yesterday announcing an Australian Federal Police Anti-Semitism Task Force.

00:37This arson attack is an act of terrorism.

00:40It was fuelled by anti-Semitism and it was stoked by hatred.

00:45Amazing to see the Prime Minister standing with us and we're very grateful.

00:49But there were some frustrations on display.

00:52As the PM left, his brief words not enough for some in the surrounding crowd.

00:57Has the Prime Minister condemned calls for intifada against Jews?

01:01Quickly ushered into his waiting car.

01:04Why is the Prime Minister such a coward?

01:05He doesn't even answer questions.

01:07Political tensions playing out too.

01:10Josh Burns, whose electorate includes the synagogue, lost his voice and couldn't attend

01:15a joint press conference on the day of the attack.

01:18He claims Liberal Senator James Paterson agreed to read out a statement on his behalf,

01:24but...

01:25Peter Dutton decided that it was more important to play partisan games.

01:29Senator Paterson responding, it is not the role of a Liberal frontbencher to act as a

01:33spokesman for a Labor MP.

01:36I think the sad truth is that the Labor Party has stopped listening to Josh a long time

01:40ago.

01:41Acts of terror usually bring a pause to the cut and thrust of politics, but this attack

01:46still under investigation has only deepened political divisions here.

01:52It's gained global attention too, as Israel's Prime Minister accused Australia of anti-Israel

01:58sentiment linking its stance at the United Nations to this incident.

02:04Foreign Minister Penny Wong defending Australia's vote on the key resolution calling on Israel

02:09to quickly end its occupation of Palestinian territories.

02:14It is not anti-Semitic to expect that Israel should comply with international law.

02:19Global tensions felt close to home.

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