Dreyfus condemns ‘grotesque’ attempts to politicise antisemitism in swipe at Dutton | Australia news

Attempts to politicise antisemitism in Australia are “grotesque”, the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, has said in a swipe at Peter Dutton while visiting Poland for a Holocaust commemoration.

It came as both major parties pledged millions of dollars to upgrading Holocaust memorials and education facilities in Australia, to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Dreyfus was responding to a question from reporters in Krakow about the opposition leader’s criticism of Penny Wong attending the anniversary event.

He said it was an “appropriate” time and place to reject the politicisation of the Holocaust by critics of Wong.

“It’s been grotesque, I use that word again, to see the rise in antisemitism since October the 7th,” he said.

“But it has been equally grotesque to see attempts being made to politicise either commemoration of the Holocaust or combating antisemitism.”

Wong said it was “not a day for politics … This is a time to remember the murder of 6 million people, 6 million Jews”.

Dreyfus has been under pressure from the Israeli government over Australia’s response to antisemitism, after his diplomatic visit to Israel and the West Bank earlier in January.

He has committed to bringing hate speech legislation forward during the first sitting fortnight in February, and will work with the opposition to pass it.

“Combating antisemitism, remembering the Holocaust, does not belong to the left or the right,” he said.

“It does not belong to the progressive side of Australian politics, or the conservative side of Australian politics. It is the solemn duty of everybody.”

Liberal senator Jane Hume responded to Dreyfus’ comments on Monday, telling Sky News he was part of a government who had “seen the greatest rise in antisemitism” in Australia.

“For Mark Dreyfus to come out 15 months later and say that the problem is politicisation is nonsense. He did say one thing, that antisemitism shouldn’t be an issue of left or right – that’s exactly right.”

Last month Wong was reportedly chastised by Israel’s foreign affairs minister, accused of weakening Australia’s support of the Middle Eastern nation.

More than 10 thousand people signed a petition calling for Wong not to attend the Auschwitz commemoration, and Dutton said she was not an “appropriate” representative.

On Monday, Anthony Albanese announced $4.4m to build the National Holocaust Education Centre in Canberra, as well as $2m to the Holocaust Institute of Western Australia to upgrade the institute’s education centre.

Dutton announced $19m for Australian Holocaust museums to expand and commemorate the 7 October attacks. That money will go to the Sydney Jewish Museum, Queensland Holocaust Museum, the Holocaust Institute of Western Australia, and $5m for October 7 commemorations and other exhibits.

Dutton said the Coalition wanted all schoolchildren to visit a Holocaust museum to combat antisemitism.

The prime minister has been under increasing pressure over the spate of antisemitic attacks across the country.

Albanese said the centre in Canberra would help to educate young Australians about the Holocaust.

“[It will] teach them from an early age that such prejudice, hatred and violence has no place here. Not now, not ever.”