Josh Burns’ office smashed and set on fire
Vandals have smashed windows and set fire to the front of federal Labor MP Josh Burns’ Melbourne electoral office in what he has branded a “politically motivated attack”.
Federal Labor MP Josh Burns’ electoral office has been targeted by vandals who smashed windows, graffitied and set fire to the front in an early morning attack on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)
At least five people were seen near the office located on Barkly Street in St Kilda at about 3.20am on Wednesday, police were told.
The group smashed windows and graffitied the walls in red paint with slogans that read, ‘Zionism is fascism’.
Investigators said small fires were lit in the telecommunications pits at the front of the building before the group ran from the scene.
The member for Macnamara, who is Jewish, has been targeted in the past by vandals defacing his election posters.
Police are investigating the circumstances and have shut down Barkly Street in both directions.
In a statement on X, Mr Burns said his St Kilda office was damaged in a “politically motivated attack”.
“I’ve been in contact with the Federal Police and am awaiting further advice,” he said.
“My team won’t be at the office this morning, or until we’re told it is safe to do so, but we’re still here to help our community and can be contacted by email.
“I understand those who have seen images or vision of the attack might find it distressing.”
The attack on Mr Burns’ office is a distressing escalation that needs to be dialled back down, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
“This has got to be seen as an attack on someone who’s a Jewish MP, someone who is running an office that looks after people’s interests,” he told ABC Radio Melbourne.
“How people think that they advance their cause through activities like this is beyond me. It does nothing. It undermines the cause that people purport to represent.”
Federal Labor minister Katy Gallagher said attacks on politicians’ offices are “not the way we do politics in Australia”.
“This type of criminal activity – vandalism – is outrageous, and we need to make sure that the community understands that this is just not on,” she told ABC TV.
Independent MP for Wentworth Allegra Spender commented: ‘The attacks last night on Josh Burns’s office are absolutely appalling. We should have zero tolerance for these kinds of violent and antisemitic attacks.
Sending my best wishes to Josh and his team, and hope they are holding up ok during this awful time.’
Peter Wertheim, co-CEO of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, told J-Wire: “This is the inevitable outcome of the weakness of will and retreat into moral cowardice that has been demonstrated far too often in recent months by our political leaders and law enforcement agencies. The fanatics who carried out this crime are anti-democratic, anti-freedom and anti-human rights. They believe they can impose their will and their opinions on others by violence and abuse. They represent the new face of left fascism, and it is every bit as ugly as its predecessors. Our liberal democracy was won and preserved at great cost by previous generations, but instead of being defended robustly by those entrusted with its safe-keeping, it is now being betrayed by feckless leadership.”
Be outspoken about what ‘From The River To The Sea’ means, be outspoken in declaring yourself a Zionist, be outspoken in condemning antisemitism, be leaders – that’s what we want from our politicians, and that’s what will ensure our society has a clear moral compass.”
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria posted on Facebook:
Anyone who witnessed the incident or with footage has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Peter Wertheim’s words are the most cogent and best expressed on the situation that we now find ourselves in that I’ve seen. Australian leaders and politicians, as well as the police force, need to take good note. Instead of waxing lyrical about how much people from both Muslim and Jewish communities are hurting and making the whole issue proportionate, they needed to see it as it actually is. It isn’t proportionate. The antisemitic acts far outweigh anti-Islam incidents and the pro-Palestinian supporters have taken over the streets, university campuses, parks, in intimidatory fashion. pushing their over-zealous rhetoric to the point of hatred and inciting violence. It needed to be stopped months ago, but it hasn’t been, so this is the result.
the more this labour government is going to just ‘accept’, cowtow for election sake and shrug their shoulders over .. the worse its going to get!