Community leaders and politicians have gathered on Hobart’s Parliament Lawns to condemn antisemitism following the deadly Bondi Beach attack that claimed 15 lives last Sunday.
The Saturday vigil brought together dozens of Tasmanians, including state MPs, councillors and community organisations, showing solidarity with victims of the attack.
Tasmanian Multicultural Affairs Minister Madeline Ogilvie delivered a strong message against discrimination.
“Tasmania utterly rejects the scourge of antisemitism,” Ogilvie said.
“Antisemitism is particularly galling. It is insidious, fundamentally, morally and ethically wrong and speaks to the worst of human nature.”
Federal Shadow Minister for Home Affairs Jonathon Duniam expressed regret over what he described as a national failure to address growing antisemitism.
“As a nation I regret, I’m ashamed of the fact that for two years now, since those terrible acts of October 7 2023, we as a country have turned a blind eye to antisemitism in many places,” Duniam said.
Tasmanian federal turned state MP Eric Abetz said he f “cried for my country” while questioning what had allowed national discourse to deteriorate.
“Let’s be clear, the growth of antisemitism has been allowed to grow without being called out for what it is, another version of fascism,” Abetz said.
The Hobart vigil also acknowledged Tasmania’s own historical trauma.
“These events have brought back strong feelings for so many Tasmanians as we too have had an experience of such loss of life some 30 years ago,” Ogilvie said in reference to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
