Australia's Fantasy of Social Cohesion

The Albanese government loves to trumpet “social cohesion” as one of its highest policy goals. Yet the reality, as laid bare in a recent Gatestone Institute article, is that this supposed cohesion is more a fantasy than a fact.

The report highlights a dangerous contradiction at the heart of government policy: while hate crimes against Australia’s Jewish community are increasing, Labor ministers seem far more concerned about avoiding “Islamophobia” than addressing blatant, violent antisemitism. Islamophobia, of course, has become a convenient political shield — used not just to protect ordinary Muslims from discrimination (a legitimate goal), but also to suppress any criticism of Islamism, radical ideologies, or the growing problem of Jew-hatred on Australian streets.

The consequences are clear for all to see. In recent months, Australia has witnessed mass pro-Palestinian demonstrations — some openly supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups — across iconic sites like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Nazi imagery has appeared at protests outside Parliament. Jewish businesses and synagogues have been targeted. And yet, when Australians rally in support of their nation’s Western values, the government dismisses them as “neo-Nazis.” The double standard is breathtaking.

Meanwhile, the government is fast-tracking Palestinians into the country, many from war zones, without proper vetting. Even Muslim-majority states like Egypt and Jordan have refused to take them in, citing security risks. But Australia, under the illusion of “compassion” and “cohesion,” apparently knows better.

This is not just about migration numbers. It is about values. As the article points out, many new arrivals do not wish to assimilate into Western norms; instead, they expect Australia to bend to theirs. Radical ideologies are imported alongside people, and demonstrations in support of Hamas show just how quickly those ideologies take root.

The Albanese government’s refusal to sign an international statement condemning antisemitism after October 7 was another telling moment. Even when pushed by the United States, Australia declined. Child Holocaust survivors here now call this government an “enemy of the Jews.” That is not hyperbole — it is a grim assessment of a government that prefers to appease radicals rather than defend its Jewish citizens.

The conclusion is stark: Australia’s emphasis on social cohesion is detached from reality. It assumes everyone in the country shares liberal democratic values when plainly they do not. By prioritising the avoidance of “Islamophobia” over confronting Islamist extremism and antisemitism, the Albanese government is laying the groundwork for the kind of social turmoil already tearing Europe apart.

As Gatestone reminds us with Netanyahu’s warning: the hardest decision for a leader is to act before a danger fully materialises. Australia’s leaders, blinded by their own utopian illusions, are failing that test. And ordinary Australians — Jewish and non-Jewish alike — will pay the price.