Australia's antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal has delivered a plan to combat "one of the world's oldest hatreds", following a "deeply troubling rise" in anti-Jewish crime.
Segal launched the plan alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Sydney on Thursday, and said recent threats and vandalism had made "Jewish Australians feel very unsafe".
"We have seen cars being torched, synagogues being torched, individual Jews harassed and attacked. That is completely unacceptable," she said.
The 20-page report includes recommendations to teach students about history and modern forms of antisemitism.
On Friday, a man doused the entrance of a Melbourne synagogue with flammable liquid before setting it alight. The incident was one of several over the last weekend, which included offensive chants outside an Israeli-owned restaurant in the city's CBD.
Segal, who said there had been a 300 per cent rise in threats, vandalism and physical violence against Jewish Australians, has maintained that "the plan is not about special treatment for one community, it is about restoring equal treatment."
Segal was appointed to the role in July 2024 in response to a rise in hate crimes against Jewish Australians following the October 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel. Aftab Malik was appointed as a special envoy to combat Islamophobia in September last year.
What does the plan outline?
The report proposes establishing a nationally consistent definition of antisemitism to be adopted across all levels of government and public institutions.
It recommends strengthening legislation to counter "hateful and intimidating conduct", including serious vilification offences, the public promotion of antisemitic sentiment, and the display of Nazi symbols. A national database would be created to ensure consistent recording of antisemitic crimes.
Education is a central focus. The plan calls for mandatory Holocaust and antisemitism education in schools, as well as enhanced teaching of Jewish history, identity, and culture. It also suggests increased monitoring of media organisations to encourage fair and accurate reporting.
Anthony Albanese speaks alongside Australia's special envoy to combat antisemitism Jillian Segal in Sydney. Source: AAP / Dan Himbrechts
Physical safety is another priority, with the plan calling for ongoing and increased funding for security at Jewish schools, synagogues, and community centres.
In the online space, the report recommends working with social media platforms to limit the reach of bots that "deliberately sow social discord" and with the eSafety Commissioner to prevent AI from amplifying antisemitic content.
It also proposes ensuring that public funding of cultural institutions, artists, and broadcasters is not used to support antisemitic themes. This would include embedding terms in funding agreements, removing deductible gift recipient status from organisations that promote antisemitism, and working with publicly funded media to develop content that supports social cohesion.
Community-wide education and awareness are also central to the strategy. The report suggests incorporating antisemitism training into community, sport, and service programs, as well as renewed support for Jewish cultural festivals and heritage projects. It also recommends re-establishing a Jewish Arts and Cultural Council.
Under the plan, immigration and citizenship policies would be reviewed to screen applicants for extremist views. Individuals involved in antisemitism could have their visas cancelled or be deported.
Finally, the report recommends a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework, including annual reporting, to track the progress and impact of the initiatives.
Will the government adopt the recommendations?
Albanese welcomed the plan and said the government would "carefully consider" its recommendations — but stopped short of committing to implement them.
"There are a number of things in here that we are doing," Albanese said.
"There’s a number of things that can be implemented quickly. There are a number of things that will require work over a period of time.
“Some of the plan requires a long-term approach. Some of it requires action by state governments. Some of it requires action by society. What we will do is work constructively with the envoy.”
Should the government adopt the suggested reforms, it may be some time before they take effect.
Changes to school curricula or immigration screening, for example, could require legislative change and intergovernmental coordination.
More than 300 per cent rise in antisemitic incidents
The report found a 316 per cent rise in antisemitic incidents between October 2023 and September 2024, with more than 2,000 cases of threats, assaults, vandalism, and intimidation reported.
It links the surge to the spread of extremist ideologies, both online and offline, with online platforms described as "vectors for conspiracy theories and hate speech".
While recent measures — including new hate crime laws passed in early 2025 — have been welcomed, the report highlights ongoing gaps. Among them were academic institutions, where 60 per cent of Jewish students who experienced antisemitism said they felt unsupported by their university.
Albanese said: "There is no place in Australia for antisemitism. The kind of hatred and violence that we have seen on our streets recently is despicable, and it won't be tolerated, and I want those responsible to face the full force of the law."
He said multiculturalism in Australia should be something to "cherish".
"One of the things that I [regard] as Australia's strength is that we can be a microcosm for the world that shows that people in my local community, overwhelmingly live side-by-side with Jewish, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, that is a strength of our society," he added.
Albanese reiterated that he was a supporter of a two-state solution in the Middle East, telling reporters: "I will continue to be consistent. I will continue to support the right of Israel to exist within secure boundaries, and I will continue to support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for their own state."
"But I will continue to oppose terrorist organisations like Hamas. I will continue to speak out on the need for aid into Gaza and for humanitarian concerns.
"I will continue to speak out for the release of hostages. I will continue to advocate, I don't say one thing when they speak to people in the Israeli government, [and a] different thing publicly."
He was also questioned about the metrics of success from this report.
"It will be successful when Australia is the sort of country... where students can go to school without any fear, where cultural diversity and expression are flourishing, where people can engage with each other and be enriched by the diversity that is our society.
"This is a process. And it is a process towards the sort of inclusive society that I know most Australians want to see."
