Former prime minister Scott Morrison has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, accusing him of weak leadership on antisemitism and foreign policy following criticism directed at the former Coalition government.
In a lengthy statement issued today, Mr Morrison said Mr Albanese was attempting to “deflect from his own leadership failings” by blaming the Coalition for Australia’s current challenges in responding to rising antisemitism.
“It was pathetic,” Mr Morrison said of the Prime Minister’s remarks.
Mr Morrison defended his government’s record between 2018 and 2022, saying Australia’s relationship with Israel was at a “high water mark” during his tenure. He cited the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, the listing of Islamist groups as terrorist organisations, increased security funding for Jewish community facilities, and Australia’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
He also said his government strengthened counter-terrorism efforts in vulnerable communities and increased funding for Holocaust museums.
The former prime minister accused the Albanese government of abandoning decades of bipartisan policy after the 2022 election, claiming Labor reversed key security programs, altered long-standing positions on Israel and Palestinian statehood, and removed senior security agency heads from the National Security Committee.
Mr Morrison said the Prime Minister’s response to the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel was “empty and ambivalent” and created a leadership vacuum that fuelled a surge in antisemitic incidents across Australia.
He claimed antisemitic incidents had increased fivefold, culminating in what he described as an extremist Islamist attack at Bondi on December 14, and said the government’s response had left “Australians embarrassed and the Australian Jewish Community devastated”.
In one of his strongest claims, Mr Morrison said Hamas had never praised his government, but had praised the Albanese government — a point he said Australians would consider when judging the Prime Minister’s credibility.
“On my watch, zero tolerance on antisemitism would have meant exactly that in practice,” he said.
Mr Morrison said his support for the Jewish community was “instinctive” and driven by lifelong principles, accusing Mr Albanese of being motivated instead by politics.
He confirmed he will travel to Jerusalem on Thursday at the invitation of the Israeli government to attend an international conference on antisemitism, alongside global leaders and experts.
Mr Morrison also recalled visiting Israel a month after the October 7 attacks with former UK prime minister Boris Johnson, saying they were among the first current or former leaders to visit the attacked kibbutz sites to show solidarity with Israel and the Australian Jewish community.
The Prime Minister’s office has not yet responded publicly to Mr Morrison’s latest comments.