Bridget Brennan, Host: Well, as more details come out about the men behind Sunday's terror attack, there are calls for urgent change. And Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite joins us now from Sydney. Good morning, Minister. Thanks very much for joining us on News Breakfast.
Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good morning, Bridget.
Brennan: Understandably, there is so much anguish in the community right now and there's starting to be some anger as well directed towards your government. Is it true that you didn't do enough to prevent this attack?
Assistant Minister: Look, we certainly appreciate that Australians, and particularly members of the Jewish community are angry. They're mourning, they're grieving. And I'm certainly there to support the Jewish community in my electorate. I've had several meetings with Jewish leaders. I've been attending events with them and vigils. We have strengthened our laws to try and combat antisemitism in Australia. But we do know that there is more work to do and over the coming days and weeks, there will be a package of measures that we will look to introduce that will strengthen our laws that will fight antisemitism and ensure that we protect not only the Jewish community, but all Australians into the future.
Brennan: So, let's get some more information on that package of measures, because I think what the community is really after is specific responses, concrete responses and more information about what the government is planning. Can you outline any of the measures you plan to take?
Assistant Minister: Well, we've already strengthened hate speech laws in Australia, particularly those that lead to violence. We've criminalised the use of Nazi symbols, criminalised doxing. We've taken measures to upgrade security at Jewish institutions throughout the country. We've implemented some of the key points in the Jillian Segal report, but there's more to do with that and that will be the foundation of the further work. The Prime Minister has already announced that work's begun on gun law reform that will be an important part of it. And of course, we'll have a look at our migration settings to make sure that they're appropriate and that they can weed out and stop people who have antisemitic or racist views that may incite violence into Australia and ensure that people like that can't migrate to our country.
Brennan: Just turning back to the Segal report, obviously when it came out, there was emphatic support for the report from some Jewish organisations, from other sectors and some other organisations. There was some reticence as to some of the recommendations. Do you anticipate that you will adopt that full report recommendations in full, or are you going to have to go, you know, line by line recommendation, recommendation? It has been six months, so it's been a while since there's been a proper response?
Assistant Minister: Yeah, we've already adopted many of the recommendations, particularly the law reform recommendations, some of the educational recommendations and certainly the security measures. There are a number that we're working through at the moment and some of them do require the cooperation and support of the states and territories. For instance, the changes to the education curriculum they require the support of the states and territories. So, we're working to achieve that and ensure that early in the new year that we're implementing some of those changes that are recommended. But aside from that, if there's anything further that we need to do, we're certainly working with Jewish community leaders at the moment to look at what further needs to be done to ensure that we bolster our antisemitic laws, laws that combat antisemitism in Australia and ensure that we're protecting not only the Jewish community, the Australian community as well.
Brennan: Do you agree with former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's comments that the Prime Minister needs to take direct responsibility for this attack?
Assistant Minister: Look, Josh is a mate. We entered the Parliament at around the same time. We served on committees together. I've got a lot of respect for Josh, and as a leading member of the Jewish community, I understand, certainly understand his grief and his anger at the moment. And I want to work with Josh. My message to Josh is, mate, let's try and work together. I want to reach out to members of the Coalition on the package of reforms that we'll bring to the Parliament around all these measures to try and work together. I think that we owe that to the Jewish community to bring national unity and to work in the interests of them and all Australians so this never happens again.
Brennan: I'll just return to the question, Minister. Do you think the Prime Minister needs to take direct, personal responsibility for the attack, as Mr. Frydenberg suggested?
Assistant Minister: Well, the Prime Minister certainly has been showing leadership and support for the Jewish community. He was the Prime Minister that led the motion in the Parliament in the wake of October 7th that strongly condemned the attacks by Hamas that supported Israel's right to defend itself and said that we stood with the people, Jewish people of Australia. That's never changed. The Prime Minister I've known for 30 years, he is a man that is deeply committed to combating antisemitism and to combating racism in Australia. And he's led a government that have delivered the strongest laws that we've ever had to try and stop that. But of course, we know that there is more work to do and that is why we are working with the leadership of the Jewish community to understand what they want and to ensure that we put in place the laws that ensure that this never happens again in Australia.
Brennan: Alright, we'll leave it there. Thank you very much, Matt Thistlethwaite, for your time this morning.
Assistant Minister: Thanks, Bridget.