Tony Burke says Melbourne synagogue fire an ‘attack on Australia’ as NSW man charged over incident

Burke defends Labor’s efforts to curb antisemitism but says job of making sure it is eliminated ‘belongs to every single one of us’

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The Australian government has labelled the Melbourne synagogue fire an “attack on Australia” as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu demands Labor do more to stop “vile” antisemitic attacks.

A 34-year-old man from New South Wales has appeared in court, charged over allegedly entering the grounds of the East Melbourne Hebrew congregation on Albert Street at about 8pm on Friday, pouring a flammable liquid on the front door of the building and setting it on fire.

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