Anthony Albanese left furious after Jewish MP Josh Burns’ St Kilda office is smashed up and set on fire: ‘Dial it down’
An outraged Anthony Albanese has criticized anti-Semitic vandals who targeted MPs’ workplaces after a Jewish politician’s office in Melbourne was attacked overnight.
Windows were smashed and the front of federal Labor MP Josh Burns’ election office in St Kilda was set on fire in what he called a “politically motivated attack”.
The walls of the building were daubed with red paint and defaced with the slogan “Zionism is fascism.” Zionism refers to the ideology that Jews deserve their own state in their ancestral homeland of Israel.
Mr Albanese said the attack was “deeply distressing” and that those responsible must be held accountable for their criminal actions.
“This is an escalation of the attacks we have seen. We’ve talked about this. We have to call this off,” he told ABC Radio.
An outraged Anthony Albanese (pictured) has targeted vandals targeting MPs’ workplaces after a Jewish politician’s Melbourne office was attacked overnight
The walls of the building were daubed with red paint and defaced with an anti-Semitic slogan: ‘Zionism is fascism’ (photo). Zionism refers to the ideology that Jews deserve their own state in their ancestral homeland of Israel
“Some people have very strong opinions about the issues in the Middle East. But there is no reason to target MPs on the other side of the world in Australia, and targeting a Jewish MP is particularly distressing.”
At least five people were seen near the Barkly Street office in St Kilda at around 3.20am on Wednesday, police were told.
Investigators said small fires were set in the telecommunications pits at the front of the building before the group ran away.
Mr Burns has been targeted in the past by vandals who defaced his election posters.
Police closed Barkly Street in both directions following the attack.
In a statement on social media, Mr Burns said his office had been damaged in a “politically motivated attack”.
“I have been in contact with the federal police and am awaiting further advice,” he said.
“My team will be out of the office this morning, or until we are told it is safe to do so, but we are still here to help our community and can be reached by email.
“I understand that those who have seen images or visions of the attack may find it disturbing.”
Albanese said the attack is a disturbing escalation that must be reversed.
“This should be seen as an attack on someone who is a Jewish member of parliament, someone who runs an office that represents people’s interests,” he said.
‘How people think they are furthering their cause through this kind of activity is beyond me. It doesn’t do anything. It undermines the cause people claim to represent.”
Windows were smashed and the front of Federal Labor MP Josh Burns’ (pictured) election office in St Kilda was set on fire in what he called a ‘politically motivated attack’.
The chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, Dr. Dvir Abramovich, said the vandalism of a Jewish lawmaker’s office is an “attack on our democracy and our sense of security.”
Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell condemned the violence and property damage but claimed the movement calling for an end to the war in Gaza was largely peaceful.
Federal Labor Minister Katy Gallagher said attacks on politicians’ offices were “not the way we do politics in Australia”.
“This kind of criminal activity – vandalism – is outrageous, and we need to make sure the community understands that this is simply not happening,” she told ABC TV.