The prime minister has pledged financial support to help rebuild a synagogue in Melbourne, that was the scene of Friday’s arson attack. Anthony Albanese was heckled during the at times chaotic visit.
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00:00At the scene of an arson attack in the heart of Melbourne's Jewish community, the Prime
00:09Minister welcomed at a place of worship.
00:12You were inside.
00:13It was terrific.
00:14Why were you here at that time in the morning?
00:18Anthony Albanese seeing the damage first hand, joined by community leaders and Labor MP Josh
00:24Burns, himself the target of anti-Semitic attacks, vowing to help rebuild the synagogue
00:31after yesterday announcing an Australian Federal Police Anti-Semitism Task Force.
00:37This arson attack is an act of terrorism.
00:40It was fuelled by anti-Semitism and it was stoked by hatred.
00:45Amazing to see the Prime Minister standing with us and we're very grateful.
00:49But there were some frustrations on display.
00:52As the PM left, his brief words not enough for some in the surrounding crowd.
00:57Has the Prime Minister condemned calls for intifada against Jews?
01:01Quickly ushered into his waiting car.
01:04Why is the Prime Minister such a coward?
01:05He doesn't even answer questions.
01:07Political tensions playing out too.
01:10Josh Burns, whose electorate includes the synagogue, lost his voice and couldn't attend
01:15a joint press conference on the day of the attack.
01:18He claims Liberal Senator James Paterson agreed to read out a statement on his behalf,
01:24but...
01:25Peter Dutton decided that it was more important to play partisan games.
01:29Senator Paterson responding, it is not the role of a Liberal frontbencher to act as a
01:33spokesman for a Labor MP.
01:36I think the sad truth is that the Labor Party has stopped listening to Josh a long time
01:40ago.
01:41Acts of terror usually bring a pause to the cut and thrust of politics, but this attack
01:46still under investigation has only deepened political divisions here.
01:52It's gained global attention too, as Israel's Prime Minister accused Australia of anti-Israel
01:58sentiment linking its stance at the United Nations to this incident.
02:04Foreign Minister Penny Wong defending Australia's vote on the key resolution calling on Israel
02:09to quickly end its occupation of Palestinian territories.
02:14It is not anti-Semitic to expect that Israel should comply with international law.
02:19Global tensions felt close to home.