Opposition Backs Government Over Iran Terror Designation as Jewish Community Reacts
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Australia’s opposition has thrown its full support behind the Albanese government’s decision to expel Iran’s ambassador and formally designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation after intelligence agencies confirmed Tehran orchestrated firebombing attacks against Jewish targets in Sydney.
The bipartisan unity marked one of the strongest national security responses in decades, with leaders describing the events as an unprecedented violation of Australian sovereignty and a chilling escalation in antisemitic violence.
“These are good decisions. We stand with the government on this shoulder to shoulder,” Shadow Home Affairs Minister Andrew Hastie said in an interview with ABC’s Afternoon Briefing. “This was Iranian-sponsored terrorism, operationally directed by the Iranian Republican Guard Corps. It’s right that we boot out the ambassador and it’s right that we amend the criminal code to list the IRGC as a terrorist entity.”
Historic Move
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday that Iran’s ambassador had been ordered to leave Australia within 72 hours and that the IRGC would be proscribed as a terrorist organisation. The measures followed months of investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), which linked Tehran to two firebombings in Sydney that destroyed a synagogue and severely damaged Jewish-owned businesses.
Hastie said the expulsion of a sitting ambassador was extraordinary in modern Australian history.
“Kicking out an ambassador, though, we shouldn’t mince words, is a big deal,” he said. “We haven’t done that in the post-World War II era. It’s pretty significant action. It also takes away from Australia’s ability to go through diplomatic channels if we need to. But Iran crossed a red line by sponsoring terrorism on Australian soil.”
Community’s Worst Fears
For Sydney’s Jewish community, confirmation that the IRGC directed the attacks validated long-standing warnings about Iranian interference.
“These attacks instigated by the Iranian regime are an attack on our nation and our sovereignty,” said Daniel Aghion KC, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ). “As Australians, we are outraged that a foreign actor perpetrated acts of terror on our soil.”
The incidents caused millions of dollars in damage and spread fear across Jewish neighbourhoods. Aghion said the firebombings represented not just an assault on property but an attempt to intimidate an entire community.
“These were attacks that deliberately targeted Jewish Australians, destroyed a sacred house of worship, caused millions of dollars of damage, and terrified our community,” he said.
Breaking : Australia Expels Iranian Ambassador After ASIO Links Tehran to Anti-Semitic Attacks
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday announced the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador and the suspension of Australia’s embassy in Tehran after intelligence agencies concluded the Iranian government orchestrated a series of anti-Semitic attacks on Australian soil.
“Absolutely Terrifying”
Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the ECAJ, said the confirmation that Iran was behind the arson attacks brought both clarity and dread.
“Two of these attacks were plotted and orchestrated by a foreign entity operating on Australian soil,” Ryvchin said in Sydney. “Knowing that a foreign regime that has committed terror attacks throughout the world is targeting Australian Jews is absolutely terrifying.”
He said the attacks forced Jewish Australians to live with daily fear. “It was a period when we were waking up every morning knowing that something would have happened overnight and not quite knowing what. That is the very power of terror. It makes you question yourself and change your daily activities. It makes you fearful about living your life.”
Praise for Police
Both Aghion and Ryvchin praised the AFP, ASIO and state police for their work in uncovering the plots.
“The Australian Jewish community is deeply grateful to the men and women of the AFP, ASIO, and state police forces for their single-minded focus and dedication to investigating these attacks, bringing the perpetrators to justice, and protecting all Australians from terrorism,” Aghion said.
Ryvchin added that the agencies had shown “single-minded commitment to pursuing these people, solving these crimes and bringing the perpetrators to justice.”
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Longstanding Warnings
The ECAJ said it had long warned that Iran posed a danger not just to the Middle East but to Australians.
“For many years, we have warned of the threat posed by the Iranian regime,” Aghion said. “This is not a regime that merely subjugates its own citizens and wages war in the Middle East through its proxies. It has consistently shown a willingness and capability to finance and orchestrate terror all over the world.”
“The organ of the regime directly responsible for this is the IRGC. We welcome and appreciate the Australian government’s decision to proscribe it as a terrorist organisation,” he said.
Coalition’s Consistent Calls
Hastie said the opposition had been urging the government to list the IRGC for years.
“We’ve already called for the IRGC to be listed up to 10 times since 2023,” he said. “This has taken too long. We want to get it done as quickly as we can.”
He acknowledged that intelligence agencies needed time to assemble the evidence but said the community could not afford delays in the future. “I think it’s important now that we get on with the listing of IRGC, and I think this sets a precedent. You mess around in Australia, you target Australian citizens as a state actor, there are now consequences.”
Sophisticated Operations
Officials said the firebombings were carried out through local proxies directed by Tehran using encrypted communications, cryptocurrency and organised crime networks.
“These are very sophisticated operations enabled by encrypted communications, cryptocurrency and a whole range of human networks,” Hastie said. “The IRGC operationally directed the two attacks but they did it through cutouts or proxies.”
Ryvchin said the involvement of domestic operatives heightened the community’s alarm. “There are so many layers to this,” he said. “We’ve seen the involvement of organised crime. To have so many lethal elements involved really has caused further terror in the community.”
Anxious Business Owners
Ryvchin said he had spoken to the owners of one Jewish-owned restaurant that was targeted.
“They were beside themselves,” he said. “It’s a small family running a small business, and they’re deeply concerned for their safety and their welfare.”
He said the fact that a business, rather than a synagogue or community centre, was attacked widened the scope of fear. “The fact that you had a business targeted would make every Jewish Australian fearful that they could be next. That’s what terrorism really does to us.”
Antisemitism in a Globalised World
Hastie said the case showed antisemitism in Australia was being fuelled by both domestic and international sources.
“It’s not just homegrown,” he said. “There are elements on the right, there are elements on the left, there are terrorist groups, there are people with religious motivations. All of it needs to be called out, all of it needs to be addressed.”
He said the internet and global communications networks allowed foreign hate to penetrate Australian society. “Internet technology means that we can have all sorts of hate spilled into our community via the online,” Hastie said.
Ryvchin warned against dismissing domestic antisemitism. “There will be those that will say because it’s a foreign regime, there’s no domestic antisemitism problem. That would be the utterly worst conclusion that could be drawn,” he said.
Protests Raise Concerns
Community leaders also pointed to public demonstrations in Sydney earlier this month in which portraits of Iran’s supreme leader were displayed.
“To have people who harbour these views and are so open about sharing it, it’s a great danger to us and to our society,” Ryvchin said. “The consequences ultimately are terrorism on Australian soil. That’s what we’re dealing with.”
Looking Forward
Aghion said the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador and listing of the IRGC sent a vital message.
“Israel’s enemies are Australia’s enemies. The same regime that helped plan the October 7 atrocities, directed Hezbollah to open a second front against Israel, attacked Israel directly with ballistic missiles and threatened it with nuclear annihilation, is responsible for plotting and executing criminal attacks against Australians,” he said.
But he cautioned that the anxiety would remain. “There will be great anxiety that we have been targeted in such a callous and calculated way, by a ruthless and violent foreign force, because of who we are.”
Legacy of Fear
For many Jewish Australians, the attacks have permanently altered their sense of security.
“People will be fearful. The question they’ll be asking foremost is, is it over? Is there an ongoing risk to the community?” Ryvchin said.
He said the ultimate impact of the firebombings was to instil fear. “It makes you question yourself and change your daily activities. It makes you fearful about living your life. And that’s exactly what these attacks did to our community.”
Hastie said the government’s actions, backed by the opposition, established a clear benchmark. “This is a very significant move. It’s the right move. That’s why the Coalition backs the government,” he said.
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