Police slam anti-Semitic graffiti in riverside Perth suburb of Dalkeith (3 Feb 2025)
Article summary: Western Australian police are investigating anti-Semitic graffiti attacks in Dalkeith, an affluent Perth suburb. A swastika and the phrase “F*ck Jews” were spray-painted on the front wall of a residence on Viking Road, with additional graffiti found on a For Sale sign in the area. The vandalism is believed to have occurred between the evening of 1 February and the morning of 2 February. Police have strongly condemned the attack, stating, “There is no place for this kind of behaviour in our community and we will not tolerate crimes that undermine our way of life in Western Australia.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also denounced the graffiti, calling it a cowardly crime and asserting, “There is absolutely no place for this kind of hatred and anti-Semitism in Australia.” He emphasised the government’s commitment to tackling anti-Semitism, referencing Operation Avalite with the Australian Federal Police, a $100 million investment in countering violent extremism, new hate speech laws, and increased security funding for Jewish schools and synagogues. In January, new penalties came into effect for performing the Nazi salute or displaying hate symbols.
The graffiti was discovered in the federal seat of Curtin, represented by independent MP Kate Chaney.
She responded to the incident by saying, “I’m shocked by the really disturbing anti-Semitic graffiti in Dalkeith overnight. This has no place in our community or any community.” Chaney urged anyone with information to report it to the police, stating, “I urge anyone with information to come forward to police so the perpetrators can be found.” She reaffirmed her commitment to fostering a respectful and united community, adding, “I’m proud to live in a cohesive and supportive community. We will not be divided by this criminal act. We will continue to insist that everyone is treated with respect, irrespective of their religion or anything else, in Curtin and beyond.”
WA Chief Rabbi Dan Lieberman rejected claims that the Cook Labor government had been weak on anti-Semitism, praising Premier Roger Cook and Police Minister Paul Papalia for their strong stance against hate crimes. However, he warned of a growing societal problem, saying that anti-Semitic attitudes were increasingly tolerated. He recounted a troubling conversation he had in Israel, where a shopkeeper advised him against returning to Australia, believing it to be hostile toward Jewish people. “This is my home and Australians are getting a reputation now where they do not like Jewish people,” he said. “I know that is not true of the majority, of course, but this is the reputation.”
The attack comes less than a week after Prime Minister Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton attended a Holocaust commemoration event in Perth, marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The event served as a reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust and the importance of combating anti-Semitism in Australia today.
