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Standing up against Antisemitism

Fostering a more inclusive society for all

It has been heartbreaking to see incidents of antisemitism and discrimination targeting Jewish people across the country. 

Whatever your perspective on the war overseas, our multicultural country's success is founded on values of respect for all Australians, regardless of religion or ethnic background. These values are more important than ever and we must stand up for them. I will continue to work across Parliament to stand up against antisemitism. You can view my work below. 

Standing up against Antisemitism

Fostering a more inclusive society for all

Standing up against Antisemitism|Fostering a more inclusive society *for all*
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Speeches in parliament:

  • November - 'Doxxing' legislation - Read here
  • October - October 7 motion - Read here
  • August 2024 - Holocaust Remembrance - Read here
  • June 2024 - IRGC - Read here
  • February 2024 - Antisemitism at universities - Read here
  • November 2023 - Banning Nazi symbols - Read here
  • November 2023 - Antisemitism and social cohesion - Read here
  • November 2023 - Social cohesion in schools and celebrating Hanukkah - Read here
  • October 2023 - October 7 terrorist attacks and the Sydney Opera House protests - Read here
  • August 2023 - Celebrating the winners of the Mikolot speaking competition - Read here 
  • March 2023 - International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and antisemitism at universities - Read here
  • November 2022 - Withdrawing recognition of West Jerusalem - Read here
  • September 2022 - International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance - Read here
  • September 2022 - Antisemitism in Sydney schools - Read here

Watch:

  • Many Jewish Australians feel this is the ‘hardest year in living memory’ - Sky News
  • ‘Not helping our country’: Greens blasted for ‘grandstanding’ on Israeli sanctions - Sky News
  • 'Australia voting for Palestine UN membership sends ‘wrong message’ to Hamas' – Sky News
  • 'Allegra Spender has ‘always supported’ a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine' – Sky News
  • 'Australians are ‘responsible’ for making clear there is ‘no place’ for anti-Semitism' – Sky News
  • ‘Absolutely clear’ rise in anti-Semitism around the world – Sky News
  • Australian communities ‘incredibly traumatised’ by Israel-Hamas conflict: Allegra Spender – Sky News
  • ‘Disappointing’: MP slams Greens for refusing to condemn Hamas attacks – Sky News
  • Independent MP says her community is ‘absolutely devastated’ following Hamas attacks – Sky News
  • Teal MP reaffirms her stance with Jewish community through ‘this absolutely terrible time’ – Sky News
  • ‘Appalling’: MP slams ‘anti-Semitic’ protests outside Sydney Opera House – Sky News
  • ABC News – Allegra discusses the importance of action on antisemitism. Watch here.
  • Allegra speech in Parliament regarding antisemitism and the Middle East. Watch here. 
  • Sky News – Allegra talks about antisemitism at protests in Sydney. Watch here.

Read:

  • Ryvchin’s book on antisemitism reaches every member of parliament - J-Wire
  • Allegra Spender on October 7 - The Australian Jewish News
  • USYD investigating ‘inappropriate’ student conduct – The Australian Jewish News
  • Anti-Semitism Envoy 'Government acts on hatred' – The Australian Jewish News
  • Teal Pair Call for IRGC Ban ‘Promoter of Terrorism’ – The Australian Jewish News
  • Cross bench MPs calls on the government to deal with university antisemitism – J-Wire 
  • Courage to Care Program 'Need for education more important than ever' – The Australian Jewish News
  • Supporting a Judicial Inquiry into Antisemitism – The Australian
  • Rabbinical Council meets with PM in Wentworth 'PM vows to ‘do more’ to tackle antisemitism' – The Australian Jewish News
  • Condemning University Encampments – The Australian
  • Teal MP Allegra Spender calls out ‘distressing’ anti-Jew hate – The Australian
  • Cross-party MPs back Jewish community push to outlaw doxxing – The Sydney Morning Herald
  • Parliament ‘stands with Israel’ in dark hour – The Australian Jewish News
  • Sydney Opera House ‘screw up’ lambasted by political, religious leaders amid operational autopsy – The Australian
  • ‘Nobody should feel afraid’ Allegra Spender – news.com.au
  • Plus61J – Vic Alhadeff sits down with Allegra Spender, who has been outspoken in supporting the Jewish community since the Hamas attacks. See here.
  • The Australian – Sydney MPs and Jewish leaders condemn antisemitic posters. See here.
  • The Australian Jewish News - Allegra Spender worked for the community in 5783. See here.
  • J-Wire – Allegra Spender supports the Community. See here.

To stay up-to-date on the latest information on my work in this space, sign-up using the form on this page.

Like many in our community, I am deeply disturbed by incidents such as the abhorrent chanting at the Opera House, antisemitic graffiti, and boycotts of Jewish businesses. I will continue to work across Parliament to stand up against antisemitism.

As your federal MP, I am closely involved in several national initiatives that aim to combat antisemitism. These include:

  • Pushing for an antisemitism envoy: I am pleased that the government has finally heeded the calls of myself and Australia’s Jewish community and appointed an Antisemitism Envoy. Earlier this year, myself and Zoe Daniel MP wrote to the Prime Minister on this matter and it is great to see he has taken action. Jillian Segal in her position will bring a national focus to the fight against antisemitism that is urgently needed.
  • Combatting antisemitism at universities: along with my fellow co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of IHRA – Josh Burns MP and Julian Leeser MP – I have been leading action to improve how universities address antisemitism on campus. Following a survey of Jewish student experiences which I ran late last year, we joined ECAJ and AUJS in bringing together Jewish students and leaders of most major Australian universities for a roundtable on how better to combat antisemitism. I have also held several bilateral meetings with Vice Chancellors. A key point of discussion was the next steps for the universities to ensure they have incorporated best practice measures in dealing with antisemitism, including improved reporting mechanisms and productive communication with Jewish student groups. I have also been working closely with AUJS to support Jewish students affected by the recent encampments. Following actions taken by the IHRA Friends Group in 2023, five universities embraced the IHRA antisemitism definition.
  • 'Doxxing': I joined with Julian Leeser and others to call for the government to consider legal options to prevent “doxxing” – the malicious publication of personal information. The government has committed to doing this and I will be engaging closely in the development of these laws.
  • Pushing the Human Rights Commission to address antisemitism: As the body with responsibility for “building communities where people of all cultures and backgrounds feel safe, respected and included” the Human Rights Commission must lead on actions to address antisemitism. I recently wrote to them to seek an urgent update on how they are addressing antisemitism and building social cohesion at a time of huge community tension.
  • Working with the Crossbench to address antisemitism: I organised a meeting with the ECAJ, NSW JBD and other members of the Crossbench to discuss issues relating to antisemitism, Israel and the broader concerns of the Jewish community. It was very productive to bring these groups together with other members of the Crossbench to help achieve a mutual understanding of concerns and shared values.
  • Banning Nazi symbols: I strongly supported a new set of laws that banned the public display of “prohibited hate symbols” (including the Nazi symbol and Nazi salute). These came into force in January 2024 and will ensure no one in Australia will be allowed to glorify or profit from acts and symbols that celebrate the Nazis and their evil ideology.
  • Helping secure grants for faith-based places: last year, seven Wentworth organisations, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, and the Community Security Group received funding under the “Securing Faith Based Places” grants. I fought hard for these grants and I look forward to continuing to work with all those in need of support. 
  • Strengthening laws against hate speech and incitement to violence: Our State and Federal Laws against hate speech and incitement to violence need to be strengthened. I have been pushing the Federal Government to introduce this legislation and now that it has, I am reviewing it as I share concerns that it does not adequately address vilification. I have also written to the NSW Police Minister regarding this issue and spoken with her on several occasions to convey the strength of feeling in the community.  (

Many people have also contacted me about how laws relating to hate speech and incitement to violence can be strengthened. Whilst these are the responsibility of the NSW Government, I have twice written to the NSW Police Minister regarding this issue and spoken with her on several occasions to convey the strength of feeling in the community. The NSW government have also recently launched a review of Section 93Z of the Crimes Act which deals with hate speech.