Anthony Albanese and Premiers unite to promise national database after string of anti-Semitic attacks

The Prime Minister and premiers have vowed to work together to stamp out anti-Semitism, promising to establish a national database to track hate crimes in the wake of another attack in Sydney where a childcare centre was vandalised and set alight. Anthony Albanese convened a meeting of National Cabinet on Tuesday, after previously resisting calls to do so and insisting people wanted “action” not “more meetings.” At the hastily arranged virtual meeting of Mr Albanese and State and Territory leaders including Premier Roger Cook, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw detailed a “shocking” rise in hate crime. The AFP said it has received 166 reports of anti-Semitic crimes since Operation Avelite was established in December, with 15 active investigations underway and one person arrest. Mr Kershaw confirmed the possibility “overseas actors” had paid local criminals to carry out some of the crimes was one line of inquiry. “We are looking at if - or how - they have been paid, for example in cryptocurrency, which can take longer to identify,” he said. “We are looking into whether any young people are involved in carrying out some of these crimes, and if they have been radicalised online and encouraged to commit anti-Semitic acts. “Regardless, it all points to the same motivation: demonising and intimidating the Jewish community.” National Cabinet agreed to establish a database to track hate crimes, aiming to better co-ordinate responses and agreed Victoria and New South Wales — where a string of firebombings and graffiti attacks have targeted Jewish community sites — will take the lead. Mr Cook said there was “complete solidarity” and that National Cabinet is determined to act together to eliminate ant-Semitism. “We condemned it in the strongest possible terms and we committed to helping each other,” he said after the meeting. “An attack on a Jewish community or a Jewish institution in NSW is an attack on all our communities. These acts are there to maximise media coverage, to maximise fear, to maximise division, to maximise hatred and it must be stopped.” Mr Cook had previously defended the timing of the meeting and rejected claims the Prime Minister was too slow to act. “No, it needs to be called at a time when all leaders are available,” he said. “I think the Prime Minister’s condemnation of the anti-Semitic behaviour on the East Coast has been absolutely forthright. I think he’s shown good leadership in convening the meeting today.” It was revealed NSW Police had charged 36 people with anti-Semitic-related offences over a series of vile attacks in Sydney, including eight people with 59 offences. A child care centre in Maroubra was graffitied with “f... the Jews” and set alight shortly before 1am on Tuesday, in what Mr Albanese denounced as a “horrific attack beyond belief”. Mr Cook said “extra measures” were under consideration, in the wake of a 464 per cent increase in reported anti-Jew incidents in WA last year. “They include better surveillance in relation to Jewish institutions, whether it’s schools, places of worship or simply community hubs, making sure that police have a higher profile to ensure not only that they’re there in case there is any anti-social behaviour but also to provide reassurance,” he said. Fears of anti-Semitic attacks become the subject of a State election battle last week, when Liberal leader Libby Mettam pledged $250,000 towards a security upgrades, despite senior Jewish leaders refuting her claims that concerns have been ignored by Labor.