Beyond politics: Allegra Spender’s independent commitment to Israel and Wentworth’s Jewish community

“I have never voted for a Greens motion on the Middle East,” she said. “And I have called on the government to move away from UNRWA”

As Allegra Spender gears up for her re-election campaign in Wentworth, she remains committed to the principles that first led her to run as an independent: climate action, economic responsibility, and representing the values of her community without the constraints of party politics. She also remains committed to supporting the Jewish community; fighting antisemitism and supporting Israel.

Spender’s father and grandfather were stalwarts of the Liberal Party. Asked why she chose to run as an independent, Spender explains “I didn’t see the Liberal Party of my father or my grandfather in the current Liberal Party, particularly their refusal to deal with climate action in a compelling way,” she explains. Identifying as a “social liberal and economic conservative,” she believes the Liberal Party has shifted too far to the right for Wentworth’s electorate.

As an independent, Spender says, she has been able to work across party lines, advocating for a range of issues including tax reform, industrial relations, and climate policy. “I vote on each issue on its merits. That takes a lot of work,” she admitted, contrasting her approach with major party MPs who she claims often vote without fully understanding the policies at hand. “That’s not what my community expects. My community expects me to do my homework.”

Spender is especially proud of her legislative accomplishments, which include strengthening Australia’s climate laws and securing $3 billion in HECS debt relief for students. “I’m really worried about young Australians who have massive debts, can’t buy a house, and struggle to get ahead. We need policies that genuinely support them,” she said.

Supporting Wentworth’s Jewish Community 

One of the most pressing issues in Wentworth, which has a significant Jewish population, is the rise in antisemitism since the October 7 attacks in Israel. “It has been heartbreaking to see so many appalling incidents targeting Jewish people across the country, including in Wentworth,” Spender said. “These disgusting attacks cannot be tolerated and there is no place for them in Australia. Antisemitism is a scourge on our society and must be stamped out.”

Spender has taken extensive action on this issue, having delivered 14 speeches in Parliament on antisemitism and worked closely with Jewish community organizations. As co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), she successfully pushed for Australia’s first Antisemitism Envoy and secured unanimous parliamentary support for a motion condemning antisemitism. “It was the only issue related to the Middle East that has received bipartisan support since October 7,” she pointed out. “Nobody else was going to do that.”

She has worked closely with NSW Police to ensure stronger security in Wentworth following the rise in antisemitic incidents. She meets weekly with Operation Shelter leadership and has advocated for a tough response to those responsible for violent threats and vandalism.

“It is really frightening. I think what will help is ensuring the people doing this are caught and brought to justice. That will deter future incidents,” she says.

Spender has also played a key role in tackling antisemitism on university campuses. “Even before October 7, I was working with Josh (Burns) and Julian (Leeser) to push universities to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism,” she said. “Five universities adopted it because of that work. After October 7, I surveyed Jewish students and took their concerns directly to university vice-chancellors. Some universities didn’t think they had a problem until they saw the overwhelming evidence we presented.” Recently, more than 30 universities adopted a definition of antisemitism based on the IHRA definition.

On the legislative front, she was instrumental in the passage of laws banning Nazi symbols and criminalizing doxxing, both of which have already been used to prosecute offenders. She also helped secure $8.5 million in funding for the Sydney Jewish Museum and grants for seven Jewish organizations in Wentworth, as well as additional funding for the Community Security Group and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

Spender asserts she is one of the few parliamentarians able to unite all sides of politics on antisemitism. When tensions ran high in Parliament over the Middle East, she led the push for a unanimous motion condemning antisemitism.

“I called the government and said, ‘We need a cross-party motion on antisemitism.’ They said, ‘You’ve got Buckley’s chance,’” she recalls. “But I got the backing of the crossbench, I got the backing of the Labor Party. I got the backing of the coalition, and then I got Senator Jackie Lambie to introduce it in the Senate, and it went through… and it’s the only thing that has been unanimous.”

Beyond legislation, Spender has focused on building community cohesion. She established the Wentworth Faith Leaders’ Forum to bring together religious leaders from different faiths and has worked with local school principals to address antisemitism in education. “It’s about both hard action—through law enforcement and legislation; but also softer action, through education and dialogue,” she explained.

On Middle East Policy

Spender has openly criticised the Australian government’s recent shift in its UN voting position on Israel-related resolutions. “I didn’t support the government changing its vote,” she says. “I think we need to be consistent in our approach, supporting Israel’s right to security while also advocating for humanitarian aid where needed.”

Despite her extensive effort, Spender has faced criticism over her signing of a letter by the Teal MPs last year regarding humanitarian aid to Gaza via UNWRA. “There has been a lot of misinformation about that letter,” she said. “What it actually said was that Australia should find any way possible to provide aid that isn’t through UNRWA. But if there was no alternative, then, as a last resort, it could be considered under strict conditions.”

She emphasized that her broader position has always been clear. “I have never voted for a Greens motion on the Middle East,” she said. “And I have called on the government to move away from UNRWA and find alternative organizations to deliver aid.”

Spender has expressed a strong desire to visit Israel but has not yet been able to make the trip. She had planned to go last year; however, in the wake of the October 7 attacks and the ongoing conflict, her family requested that she postpone her visit due to safety concerns. She also stated that she hopes to visit Israel in the near future, should circumstances allow.

As the election approaches, Spender remains focused on the issues that matter most to her electorate. “One of my top priorities is stronger federal laws to protect the Jewish community from hate; by criminalizing serious vilification and ensuring that hate preachers can be successfully prosecuted,” she said. She is also pushing for a judicial inquiry into antisemitism at universities and joint action between federal and state governments to ensure a coordinated response.

Looking ahead, she remains optimistic about the role that independents can play in Australian politics. “Some people say independents don’t have power. But as an independent, I was able to bring together the entire Parliament to take a stand against antisemitism when no one else was going to do it,” she said. “That’s the difference; when you’re independent, you can put the community first.”