Gerald Posner posts: “The more we learn about Bondi, the worse it looks. A father–son terror team had 10 ten minutes to reload multiple weapons before police arrived — and responders came w/ handguns to face rifles. In a climate of explicit threats against Sydney’s Jewish community, it’s indefensible that a public Hanukkah gathering of thousands didn’t have far more visible, hardened security. This wasn’t unforeseeable. It was unprepared-for.”
Libs of Tiktok posts: “I’m told by multiple victims’ families of the Sydney t*rrorist attack that the Australian government has done absolutely NOTHING for the victims. No visits. No calls. No support. I’m also told they’re trying to arrange a gathering on Sunday to honor the victims and the government is trying to BLOCK it.”
Leading opposition politicians from the Liberal party are all in on criticizing the Labor government for not doing enough to protect Jews.
My theory: Australia’s Labor government has made the rational calculation that there are more votes to be gained by pandering to Muslims rather than to Jews.
Gemini: There is a massive disconnect between the government’s official statements and the anger coming from the Jewish community and victims’ families.
The “Libs of TikTok” Claim: The post you saw references a growing sentiment among victims’ families that they have been abandoned. While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese claims to have “had discussions with family members,” reports from social media and community advocates suggest many families feel completely ignored (receiving “no calls, no visits”) and view the government’s gestures as PR rather than genuine support.
The “Blocked” Gathering: There are reports of friction regarding memorial events. While some official vigils (like one at Bondi Pavilion) have proceeded, the claim about a “blocked” gathering likely refers to a specific community-led march or event that police may have tried to restrict, possibly citing security concerns or lack of permits. This has fueled the perception that the government is managing the optics rather than supporting the grieving community.
Political Backlash: The user’s observation about the Labor government’s political calculation is echoed by critics. Jewish community leaders and opposition politicians have accused the Albanese government of “weakness” and “inaction” for months, arguing that they allowed antisemitism to fester (e.g., tolerating “gas the Jews” chants at previous protests) to avoid alienating Muslim voters in key electorates.
Prime Minister Albanese has condemned the attack as “pure evil” and ordered flags to fly at half-mast, but he is facing intense heckling and criticism for not doing enough to curb rising antisemitism prior to this tragedy.
Security: Police presence has been drastically increased around Jewish schools and synagogues in Sydney and Melbourne.
Community Anger: The Jewish community in Australia is expressing a sense of betrayal, with leaders stating they are “horrified but not shocked,” having warned the government that such an attack was inevitable due to the rising temperature of anti-Israel rhetoric.
In short, a horrific terror event has occurred, and the government is currently under siege for its handling of the aftermath and its pre-attack policies regarding social cohesion and antisemitism.
I notice that leading Liberal party politicians are throwing in with the Jewish community to try to take down Labor.
Gemini says: The most explosive development came from former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (a prominent Jewish Liberal), who delivered an emotional speech at the Bondi Pavilion. He went far beyond standard political criticism, explicitly demanding that Prime Minister Albanese accept “personal responsibility” for the deaths of the 15 victims.
The Argument: Frydenberg and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton are arguing that by tolerating months of “gas the Jews” chants, university encampments, and anti-Israel protests, Labor allowed a culture of radicalization to fester.
The Quote: Frydenberg stated, “Our prime minister… has allowed Australia to be radicalised on his watch. It is time for him to accept personal responsibility for the death of 15 innocent people.”
2. Rejecting the “Gun Control” Pivot
The Albanese government has attempted to pivot the conversation toward tightening gun laws (specifically limiting the number of firearms an individual can own). The Liberals are actively trying to block this narrative shift, arguing it is a distraction from the real issue: ideological extremism.
Sussan Ley (Deputy Liberal Leader) and others have rejected the focus on guns, arguing that “current gun laws were not the problem” and that “if you have Jewish hatred in your heart, you will find an instrument of terror.”
By refusing to let Labor turn this into a gun debate, they are keeping the focus squarely on Labor’s failure to combat antisemitism.
3. The Alliance
The Liberal Party is effectively echoing the exact sentiments of the Jewish community leaders:
Shared Narrative: Both groups are saying the government prioritized Muslim votes in Western Sydney over Jewish safety.
Joint Demands: They are calling for a Royal Commission into antisemitism and potentially a recall of federal parliament to pass tougher immigration and anti-hate laws, rather than just gun reforms.
In short, the Liberal Party has made the strategic decision to fully back the Jewish community’s claim that Labor’s inaction caused this tragedy, aiming to inflict maximum political damage on Albanese for his handling of social cohesion since October 7.
