Nick Grimm: The reaction from religious leaders and politicians to the arson attack has been swift, with federal opposition leader Peter Dutton laying the blame squarely at the feet of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Sarah Maunder has our report.
Sarah Maunder: Outside the burnt-out Adass Israel Synagogue, a press conference by the Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan was brought to an abrupt end as tension spoiled over.
Sarah Maunder: Before it was cut short, Jacinta Allan joined the chorus of politicians today condemning the attack.
Jacinta Allan: There were people inside, people inside who were praying, who were studying, who were going about practicing their faith, and every Victorian of every faith deserves the right to do that safely. So my thoughts are more with the members of the community, and not the people who bring evil and hate.
Sarah Maunder: She pledged $100,000 towards rebuilding the synagogue and confirmed Victoria Police will have increased patrols around the area over the weekend and into next week.
Jacinta Allan: They'll be around synagogues, they'll be around important places for the Jewish community. They'll also be in public spaces as well, providing support to the local community.
Sarah Maunder: Fire crews were called to the synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne's southeast shortly after 4am, finding a large fire burning through the building. Naomi Levin is the Jewish Community Council of Victoria's chief executive and says people are shattered.
Naomi Levin: We've been concerned and warning anyone who'll listen about the rise in anti-Jewish hate in our community for over a year now, and this is our worst fears realised.
Sarah Maunder: Ms Levin is advising the local community to stay strong.
Naomi Levin: We're Victorians and Australians first, but being Jewish is a really important part of our identity. And my role at the Jewish Community Council is to ensure that Victorian Jews can continue to live safe and proud Jewish lives.
Sarah Maunder: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the arson attack this morning.
Anthony Albanese: This was a shocking incident. There's no place in Australia for an outrage such as this. To attack a place of worship is an attack on Australian values.
Sarah Maunder: A few days ago, Australia voted in favour of a United Nations resolution demanding Israel end its occupation of the Palestinian territories. In response, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement saying Australia was inviting terrorism. But the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today defended Australia's vote.
Anthony Albanese: Well, 157 countries voted for that resolution, including the Five Eyes partners, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, as well as Australia. And it's exactly the same way that the Howard government voted for a long period of time.
Sarah Maunder: However, the opposition leader Peter Dutton placed the blame for rising anti-Semitism in Australia directly on the Prime Minister.
Peter Dutton: He said that he would adopt a bipartisan position, as has been the case for his predecessors. I think it's left our country less safe. And frankly, a lot of people in the Jewish community don't only feel uncertain, they feel unsafe. Why have we allowed, since October 7 of last year, months and months of violent protest to take place, the vilification of people of Jewish faith, the defacing of cars, and now the bombing of the synagogue? It's unacceptable. And the Prime Minister needs to stand up for our values, and he needs to do that not just here at home, but also in the United Nations and elsewhere.
Nick Grimm: Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton ending Sarah Maunder's report.