Former Treasurer Blames PM for Terror Deaths, Demands Urgent Anti-Extremism Crackdown
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Josh Frydenberg, former Liberal treasurer and current opposition figure, directly blamed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the deaths of 15 people in the Bondi Beach terror attack, claiming the government “abandoned” Australia’s Jewish community and allowed the country to be “radicalised on his watch.”
The Accusation
Speaking at what appeared to be a memorial or vigil following the Bondi Beach terror attack, Josh Frydenberg delivered a blistering political attack against the Prime Minister, going beyond typical political criticism to assign personal blame for deaths.
“It’s time for him to accept personal responsibility for the death of 15 innocent people, including a 10-year-old child,” Frydenberg said. “It’s time our Prime Minister accepted accountability for what has happened here.”
He claimed the Jewish community has been “abandoned and left alone by our governments” and that “our governments have failed every Australian when it comes to fighting hate and anti-Semitism.”
PressCon : PM Praises Hospital Response to Terror Attack, Calls for Blood Donations
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday praised medical staff who operated eight operating theaters simultaneously to treat victims of a terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration, while urging Australians to sustain blood donations in coming weeks.
St. Vincent’s Hospital normally staffs one operating theater on Sunday nights but mobilized eight to handle casualties from Sunday’s attack, which authorities believe was inspired by Islamic State ideology. In at least one case, a patient reached the operating table 12 minutes after arriving at the emergency department, Albanese said.
Who Is Josh Frydenberg?
Frydenberg served as Australia’s Treasurer from 2018 to 2022 under the Liberal-National Coalition government. He’s Jewish and has been vocal about antisemitism in Australia. He lost his Melbourne seat of Kooyong to independent Monique Ryan in the 2022 election but remains a prominent Liberal Party figure.
He produced a documentary on antisemitism 18 months ago and has consistently called for stronger action against extremism.
The Core Claims
Frydenberg’s speech traced what he described as a pattern of government inaction:
On the Sydney Opera House incident (October 2023):
He claimed that after pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at the Opera House following the October 7 Hamas attack, police arrested “a simple Jewish man holding in solidarity the Israeli flag” rather than those chanting slogans. He said authorities downplayed what was chanted, claiming they said “where are the Jews?” rather than “gas the Jews.”
On extremist organizations:
Frydenberg specifically called out Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamic organization banned in the UK, Germany, and moderate Muslim states but not in Australia. He noted that Channel 9 and 60 Minutes exposed 18 months ago how the group was “grooming young men in schools, in universities, online and across Australian society.”
“Prime Minister, for 18 months, what have you done? Nothing. The answer is nothing. And the result is this,” Frydenberg said.
On the shooter’s connections:
He claimed “the shooter here who did this was linked to a factory of hate in Bankstown” and asked: “How can that factory of hate be allowed to open its doors for one day more?”
On Nazi demonstrations:
He referenced recent incidents where “Nazi sympathisers” stood on the steps of Victorian and NSW parliaments, asking what federal and state leaders had done. “Nothing. Nothing,” he answered.
What Is Hizb ut-Tahrir?
Hizb ut-Tahrir is an international Islamic political organization that calls for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate. It’s banned in multiple countries including Germany, Russia, China, and several Middle Eastern nations.
In Australia, it’s legal but controversial. The organization insists it’s non-violent and focuses on political activism, but critics claim it promotes extremism. The group has held public events and protests in Sydney and Melbourne.
The Five-Point Demand
Frydenberg laid out specific actions he wants the government to take:
Ban hate preachers — specifically citing Islamic preachers in Lakemba who called October 7 “an act of courage and pride”
Ban extremist organizations — naming Hizb ut-Tahrir and right-wing Nazi groups
Prosecute incitement — including people using the phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” which Frydenberg said former ASIO chief Dennis Richardson called “a very violent statement”
Ban protests near schools and synagogues — claiming these areas need protection
Implement strict gun control — though he did not elaborate on specific measures
Government’s Track Record (According to Frydenberg)
Frydenberg cited his own 18-month-old documentary interview with the PM, where Albanese allegedly agreed that “from the river to the sea” had no place on Australian streets. Frydenberg claimed the PM “agreed” with Dennis Richardson’s assessment but took no action.
He listed what he described as a pattern of antisemitic incidents since October 7, 2023:
Doxing of Jewish creatives
Canceling of Jewish artists
Boycotting of Jewish businesses
Graffiting of schools
Harassment of Jewish students on university campuses
Firebombing of synagogues and daycare centers
Daily protests he characterized as “hate”
The Missing Context
What Frydenberg didn’t mention in his speech:
The government DID appoint special envoys to address both antisemitism and Islamophobia in 2024
There HAVE been arrests and prosecutions related to some antisemitic incidents
The government IS announcing a $140 million security package (though this came after Frydenberg’s speech)
Some of the incidents he described (like university statements) involve free speech protections, not criminal matters
Also notably absent: any mention of Islamophobic incidents or attacks on Muslim communities, which have also increased during the same period.
What the Government Says
In the press conference that followed Frydenberg’s speech, Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced the $140 million security package and outlined gun control measures being discussed at National Cabinet.
PM Albanese has rejected accusations that Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state was to blame for the attack, according to news reports.
The government has not directly responded to Frydenberg’s claim of “personal responsibility” for the deaths.
The Political Context
This accusation comes at a charged political moment:
Australia is grappling with rising hate incidents against both Jewish and Muslim communities
The Israel-Gaza war has created deep divisions in Australian society
An election is expected in 2025
The Liberal opposition has consistently accused Labor of being weak on antisemitism
Labor has accused Liberals of politicizing tragedy
Is This Fair?
Frydenberg’s claim that the PM bears “personal responsibility” for 15 deaths is a political accusation, not an established fact. Here’s what we can actually verify:
True: Antisemitic incidents have increased significantly since October 2023. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry recorded 1,654 incidents in the past year — nearly five times pre-war levels.
True: Hizb ut-Tahrir is not banned in Australia, despite being banned in other countries.
Unclear: Whether specific government actions could have prevented this particular attack. The 24-year-old shooter was investigated in 2019, but we don’t know the outcome or whether continued surveillance was warranted.
Missing: Evidence directly linking government inaction to this specific attack. Terrorism experts note that preventing every attack is nearly impossible even with strong security measures.
What This Means For You
If you’re Jewish: This attack and the political response show community safety is becoming a major election issue. Security funding is increasing, but the debate over how to address rising antisemitism continues.
If you’re concerned about free speech: Frydenberg’s calls to prosecute certain political slogans and ban organizations raise questions about where the line is between hate speech and political expression.
If you’re Muslim: The focus on Islamic extremism without equivalent attention to right-wing violence or Islamophobia suggests the political response may be imbalanced.
For everyone: This kind of direct blame — holding a PM “personally responsible” for deaths — represents an escalation in political rhetoric that could shape how governments respond to terror attacks.
What Happens Next
The government will need to respond to these specific accusations
Debate over banning Hizb ut-Tahrir will likely intensify
Free speech vs. hate speech boundaries will be tested
This will almost certainly become a major issue in the 2025 election campaign
Jewish and Muslim community leaders will be caught between security concerns and civil liberties
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