Dutton warns young Aussies being 'radicalised' online after more antisemitic attacks

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of doing "nothing" about antisemitism.

A policeman standing in front of a vandalised wall.

Buildings have been vandalised with antisemitic graffiti in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Source: AAP / Bianca De Marchi

Key Points
  • Peter Dutton says young Australians can be radicalised because of a "bombardment of propaganda" online.
  • The Opposition leader has accused the government of not condemning antisemitic conduct strongly enough.
  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly and unequivocally condemned acts of antisemitism in Australia.
More cars and buildings have been spray-painted with antisemitic graffiti in Sydney, the latest in a string of vandalism incidents.

Police said on Sunday they were investigating after vandals sprayed cars and garage doors in Sydney's eastern suburbs with antisemitic obscenities, mirroring previous graffiti attacks in the city's east.

Strike Force Pearl commander detective superintendent Darren Newman said under his command 11 arrests have been made, 66 charges laid and 12 investigations commenced in recent months, with some of the attacks linked.
Police also said on Sunday they were treating an incident in which eggs and verbal abuse were hurled at five young women near Bondi Beach as an antisemitic incident, with the young women's clothing possibly identifying them as targets.

However, on Tuesday, after arresting two teenagers over the incident. Strike Force Pearl, set up by NSW Police to deal with antisemitic incidents in the state, is no longer involved.
People cleaning a vandalised garage.
Vandals sprayed cars and garage doors in Sydney's eastern suburbs with antisemitic obscenities, mirroring previous graffiti attacks in the city's east. Source: AAP / Bianca De Marchi
Newman has ruled out any link between the vandalism in Sydney's east on Saturday night and a caravan found on Sydney's northwest outskirts that contained explosive material and addresses of Jewish targets.

Since December a synagogue has been firebombed, multiple cars torched and the Nazi Hakenkreuz symbol and antisemitic language painted on vehicles and buildings in Jewish communities.

The Australian Federal Police is investigating whether overseas actors paid local criminals to carry out the antisemitic attacks.
Peter Dutton.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has taken aim at big tech companies for "radicalising" young people as yet another string of anti-Jewish graffiti has appeared in Sydney overnight. Source: Getty / Tracey Nearmy

Dutton concerned about internet 'propaganda'

Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton has put major tech companies in the firing line over concerns young people are being radicalised amid the spate of antisemitic attacks.

Social media platforms profiting off kids need to do more to keep them safe online but failed to do so because of a focus on profits, he said.
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"Our kids are on their devices constantly, the same rules should apply online as they do in the real world," he told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday.

"As [Australian Security Intelligence Organisation director-general] Mike Burgess would point out, a young person sitting in front of a computer screen can be indoctrinated over a week or two because of the constant videos and bombardment of propaganda," Dutton said.

"So there's obviously the influence of social media, there's the influence of people who are radicalised here in our own society."
Asked about the responsibility of X owner Elon Musk for this radicalisation, Dutton said he "had a battle for over a decade against people like Elon Musk and [Meta CEO] Mark Zuckerberg and others who were making money out of our kids", which he said needed to be done in a "responsible way".

Prime minister did 'nothing' about antisemitism, Dutton claims

Dutton said ambiguity from the government about activities such as anti-Israel protests around university campuses that impacted Jewish students had resulted in an environment that allowed antisemitism to fester.

He accused the prime minister and universities of not being strong enough in condemning antisemitic conduct.

"To this very day, the universities haven't given a proper account of how that was allowed to continue on," he said.
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"The prime minister did nothing about it, the marches on the streets that went on for months and months, waving flags of terrorist organisations, all of that allowed people to believe that there was no red line that could be crossed and there's no consequence."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly and unequivocally condemned acts of antisemitism and called for perpetrators to be hunted down and prosecuted.

Federal and state police had investigated and charged people over the waving of terrorist flags at protests.

Dutton accused of 'playing politics'

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth accused Dutton of politicising a serious issue.

"It's unacceptable that there are people of Jewish faith feeling unsafe in this country but for the government it's about being responsible and making sure people are actually safe, not playing politics," she told Sky News.

The Opposition leader has been criticised by some Jewish community leaders for ignoring the voices of Jews who were critical of Israel and using the community as a political football.

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4 min read
Published 2 February 2025 2:04pm
Updated 4 February 2025 10:55am
Source: AAP, SBS


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