Julian Leeser Mp Federal Member For Berowra

One of the joys of representing the Berowra Electorate in the Federal Parliament is that we are a genuine multicultural community, where people of every faith and background live peacefully side by side.

It’s a safe and welcoming community. That’s the reason people choose to live here.

That is why, like thousands of others, I was shocked when a caravan packed with enough explosives to kill hundreds of people in what could have been the largest domestic terrorist incident in Australian history, was found in Dural.

It is an important reminder for us all, that if you see something suspicious, say something.

This caravan incident had nothing to do with our community or its values.

As one of the few Jewish Australians in the Federal Parliament, I have strongly called out the failure of the Labor Government, the Greens and the Teals, to deal with antisemitism in Australia today.

On the first day of Parliament this week, I was proud to speak on a motion condemning antisemitism and called on the government to do more to protect the Australian community.

Australians want to see this government leave no stone unturned when it comes to combating antisemitism and protecting our community.

Law abiding people, regardless of their faith or background, deserve the full protection of the law. Unfortunately, for Jewish Australians this has not been the case.

The Government has not taken these issues seriously. As I’ve gone around our community, I am reminded by many of you to keep fighting against antisemitism and the lawlessness that we are seeing on our streets.

Fighting for tougher laws and stronger penalties is not only a matter of public safety, but it is about the Australia that we want to leave for our children and grandchildren.

I make no apology for standing for the safety of our community.

Do we want an Australia where all of us have a place, or only some of us? An Australia where all of us are afforded the same protections under the law, or only some of us?

This week the parliament passed laws to provide minimum mandatory sentences for those who commit hate crimes in this country. These laws were opposed by the Greens and Teals.

I will always stand up for a multicultural Australia, where all law abiding Australians are able to live under the protection of the law.