After a fight with my computer we are back with question time where Julian Leeser asks the question we all knew was coming:

Under this Prime Minister, thugs were allowed to chant anti-Semitic hate speech on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. The Prime Minister refused to start a taskforce and Jewish homes have been threatened and vandalised. The Prime Minister promised Australians that social cohesion was his priority. With anti-Semitism getting worse, not better, what has our country become under your government?

Anthony Albanese‘s team also obviously expected this question as he has a whole timeline:

I have been opposed to racism in all its forms my entire life, including anti-Semitism.

And indeed, on the day or indeed the morning after the terrorist attack on 7 October, I was on Insiders condemning it unequivocally.

The next morning on the Today Show, I said this in response to the demonstration that took place that night – “There is nothing to celebrate by the murder of innocent civilians going about their day. Some of those who had been captured are young children enjoying life, enjoying each other’s company.

Word got out about the Opera House rally that was due.

I spoke before the rally on 2GB – “So, you on Prime Minister believe this march should not go ahead?” I was asked. I said this – “I absolutely believe it should not.”

I said there was nothing that could be achieved apart from creating a climate that is not conducive to peace. The day after those rallies, I went on to say, and in Sky News, 2GB and Sky News, so it should be familiar, went on to say – “We need to lower the temperature. I don’t want to see conflict in Australia and I don’t want to see the sort of things I saw last night. One of the reasons why I believe it was inappropriate to go ahead last night.”

I did a press conference in Port Lincoln in South Australia that day, of October. I said there again “I think there is nothing to celebrate here.”

I went on to speak about the rallies and said the actions we saw on the weekend need to be unequivocally condemned. I did that consistently at every single opportunity – every opportunity. I have continued to do that.

I note the comments of those, for reasons beyond my comprehension, who have argued that that was not the case. It is up to them to explain why that is not the case.

Why they suggest that rather than look for the absolute maximum of unity, some have sought a different road. In this parliament, we carried a resolution as well and there were some fine speeches that day. Anti-Semitism is a scourge. It is opposed by anyone who is decent.

What we saw in the videos yesterday is abhorrent. I have spoken today with premier Minns. He talked about the health minister travelling to Bankstown Hospital to make it very clear that the actions of these two reprehensible people in showing their hatred for people because they are Jewish, there anti-Semitism there for all to see without any shame or without any embarrassment, is overwhelmingly why people go into the help profession.

What I have sought and will continue to speak and I asked my friend here to join me with it because we have been on unity tickets before to join at every single opportunity to look for social cohesion and to look to bring people together rather than any suggestion that anything other than total condemnation of anti-Semitism is precisely what every person in my government has done – not just since 7 October, but our entire political lives, as one of the reasons why people join the Labor Party – because they believe in cohesion in our society, they believe in inclusion, they believe in diversity, because they believe and respect for people regardless of their faith or their origins.