Independent MP Allegra Spender was confronted by an angry community member in Bondi on Friday, accusing her of inaction on addressing antisemitism.
The heated exchange underscored the ongoing emotional fallout and community outrage in the wake of Sunday's terrorist attack, in which 15 people were killed in a mass shooting that targeted a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach.
"You failed us every step of the way," a man told Spender, who serves as the federal member for Wentworth — which includes Bondi and parts of Sydney's eastern suburbs, home to one of Australia's largest Jewish communities.
"She is supposed to represent the Jews of this area, and she has failed."
Spender said she owns her failures.
"I have failed," she replied.
"That is what I'm trying to do right now. What I'm trying to do is push on hate speech."
People watching on could be heard applauding during part of the confrontation and shouting "shame on you".
'Huge range of emotions right now'
The man approached Spender as she was preparing to be interviewed by SBS News. In the subsequent interview, she acknowledged that "people have a huge range of emotions right now".
"There is enormous grief. There is deep fear. There is also anger," she told SBS News.
"Because I believe we have failed Jewish Australians in what has happened."
"We need to work out how to provide the security for the Jewish community on the long term, and actually, frankly, how to build back so that we are a country where you should feel safe, whatever your faith, whatever your ethnicity, whatever your sexuality."
She said it was an important time for politicians "of all stripes" to be present in Bondi and their own local communities to hear the concerns of their constituents.
Asked for her opinion on government announcements this week, Spender called for faster action, particularly in measures targeting hate speech.
"I think the government could and should move faster, both to really stop the hate preachers, and at the same time, draw a bright line in the sand and say that those who try and incite hate in our country cannot get away with it," she said.
Government moves in wake of attack
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday announced plans to introduce a raft of new measures, including tougher hate speech laws, to combat antisemitism in Australia, describing it as an "evil scourge".
He said he would fully adopt a report delivered six months ago by antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal.
"We will continue to work through the implementation of the 13 recommendations in consultation with the Jewish Australian community and our special envoy," he said in a statement co-signed by several other frontbenchers.
The prime minister has faced backlash from some members of the Jewish community and Opposition for not implementing the recommendations sooner.
Opposition leader Sussan Ley has called on the government to recall parliament before Christmas to debate new legislation, accusing Albanese of allowing antisemitism to "fester" over the past two years.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Albanese acknowledged that "more could have been done, and I accept my responsibility for the part in that as prime minister of Australia".
Albanese on Friday said the federal government will introduce legislation for a gun buyback scheme, while NSW will seek to bring in a cap of four guns per owner.
'Overdue first step'
Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, said Albanese's Thursday announcement was a "welcome, if overdue, first step".
He called on the government to go further and establish a royal commission into antisemitism in Australia.
"Our government and other public institutions have proven unwilling and incapable of properly addressing the issue," he said. "We need the integrity of a Royal Commission to provide sweeping recommendations."
The organisation also recommended that parliament be recalled immediately to discuss and legislate urgent reforms, among other steps, including stronger prosecution of hate speech and incitement.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry President Daniel Aghion said the measures "appear to reflect recommendations that have been made repeatedly over the last two years or more", but that the group would need to see the details before determining if they were adequate.
"This suite of measures can only be regarded as a first step, but it is an essential one," he said.
"We warned of the risk of not dealing with antisemitism in this country promptly and effectively after October 7. It is an absolute tragedy that it has taken a massacre of Jewish and other Australians for that step to be taken."
"The prime minister acknowledged that more could have been done to protect Jewish Australians. We agree."
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