Federal Labor MP Josh Burns has detailed the antisemitic abuse directed at him and his partner, including the violent attack on his Melbourne electorate office, as he called for stronger laws and tougher action against online hate.
Burns told the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion that when he was woken in the middle of the night and told his office had been attacked, he felt guilty about the effect on residents, nearby businesses and his community.
“I felt almost guilty,” the Jewish MP for Macnamara said of the June 2024 attack.
Windows at his St Kilda electorate office were smashed, antisemitic graffiti was sprayed across the building and small fires were lit in telecommunications pits outside.
Horns were spray-painted on an image of Burns, while the words “Zionism is fascism” were written in red across his face.
The fires caused telecommunications outages lasting several hours for surrounding businesses.
Residents of apartments near the office, including a family with a newborn baby, were evacuated about 3am.
Burns said the attack shattered the idea of Australia as the “goldene medina”, or golden land, in which generations of Jewish Australians had felt safe.
“I felt like we were lost,” he said.
“How was this part of the democracy that we all work for? How was this going to solve anything in the Middle East?
“All it did was cost $100,000 to fix it and scare a lot of people.”
Burns said an “us and them” narrative had grown online, portraying all Jewish Australians as loyal to the Israeli government and responsible for its actions in Gaza.
“A lot of the commentary directed at me suggests somehow I am celebrating … the death of Palestinian kids,” he said.
“That is absolutely not the case. It’s a complete dehumanisation of Jewish people.”
He said the term “Zionist” was increasingly being used as a substitute for “Jew”, particularly when combined with traditional antisemitic claims, collective blame or threats.
Burns said criticism of Israeli government policies, or of Australia’s policies and actions in the Middle East, was legitimate and should be part of democratic debate.
However, he condemned abuse directed at Jewish Australians because of decisions made by the Israeli government.
He also acknowledged the suffering of Palestinians, saying they deserved dignity, safety and rights, just as he wanted those things for his own family and community.
Burns said antisemitic online abuse had also been directed at his non-Jewish partner, Animal Justice Party Victorian Legislative Council member Georgie Purcell.
He said the abuse targeting Purcell carried an added “layer of misogyny”.
“To see someone cop this sort of abuse just because they are with you, it’s devastating,” he said.
Burns said his electorate staff had also faced regular abuse by telephone and that security concerns had affected the way his office arranged public appearances. He warned that the treatment of Jewish politicians could discourage other Jewish Australians from entering public life.
“I worry that Jewish Australians look at the abuse directed at me and feel that politics is not an avenue for them,” he said.
Burns urged the commission to recommend stronger vilification laws and changes to the Online Safety Act.
He said the eSafety Commissioner should have greater power to act against material targeting Jewish people or other minority groups, even when no individual person was named.
Burns also argued that social media companies should be required to remove hateful material themselves rather than waiting for regulators to intervene. He called for closer scrutiny of algorithms that promote inflammatory and extremist content because it attracts attention and keeps users online.
Burns backed the use of a comprehensive definition of antisemitism by institutions and industry bodies while maintaining that legitimate criticism of Israel and political debate must remain protected.
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion resumed public hearings on Monday after holding closed hearings focused on security matters.
Over the next fortnight, the commission will examine the role of the media, particularly the ABC and SBS, as well as the nature, prevalence and drivers of antisemitism and other forms of online hate.
The commission has also heard evidence about Jewish Australian schoolchildren receiving death threats and being targeted with Nazi slurs.
A father known by the pseudonym ACF said his son became unusually attached to his phone following the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023.
The boy, who was seven at the time, received messages saying his “Israelian” family should be killed by Hamas.
“I hope Hamas bombs your fat arses,” one message said.
“You should kill yourself,” another said.
Parents of Jewish children have called for tighter monitoring of social media platforms and stronger action against online abuse.
Burns, who supports the federal government’s ban on social media access for children under 16, also called for stronger rules.
Other witnesses scheduled to appear on Tuesday include violinist and conductor Ben Adler.
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