The foreign government used a number of criminal proxies and undertook acts of foreign interference, espionage and politically motivated violence to perpetrate the firebombing of the Adass Synagogue in Melbourne in December 2024, as well as a fire at Bondi’s iconic Lewis Continental Kitchen on October 20, 2024.
But Mr Burke warned against blame and violence against Australia’s Iranian community and urged unity among Australians.
“The anti-Semitism that drove this attack as I said began in Iran, not Australia, but importantly we must not allow the blame to fall on Australians of Iranian descent,” he said during question time.
“That’s exactly the kind of disunity and division these attacks were designed to create. Instead, Australia stands together, these attempts at division will fail, they already have.
“We stand together as a nation in unity and strength.”
Anthony Albanese, inside of Adass Israel synagogue after last December’s firebombing, announced on Tuesday Iran had been behind the attack. Picture: Supplied
ASIO intelligence has also linked the Iranian government to a suspicious fire are Bondi’s Lewis Continental Kitchen. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer
Mr Burke’s plea comes after Anthony Albanese sensationally revealed Iran’s ambassador to Australia Ahmad Sadeghi had been expelled and given seven days to leave, with Australia also suspending its operations at its embassy in Tehran.
This represents the first time in the post-war period where Australia has expelled an ambassador.
The Prime Minister also said the government would move to legislate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.
“ASIO assesses it’s likely Iran directed further attacks as well,” Mr Albanese said in Canberra.
Iran’s ambassador to Australia Ahmad Sadeghi has been expelled and given seven days to leave the country. Picture: Nine News
Anthony Albanese has confirmed the Iranian government was behind two major anti-Semitic attacks in Australia. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman
“These were extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil.
“They were attempts to undermine social cohesion and sow discord in our community.”
Mr Burke said the move to list the IRGC as a terrorist organisation was the “strongest possible signal that this conduct has reached a new and totally unacceptable low”.
“The actions of my government send a clear message, a message to all Australians we stand against anti-Semitism, and we stand against violence,” he said.
“And a message to nations like Iran who seek to interfere in our country that your aggression will not be tolerated.”
ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said the IRGC used a “complex web of proxies to hide its involvement” and said ASIO was still working on “investigating possible Iranian involvement in a number of other attacks”.
“There is a layer cake of cut outs between IRGC and the person or the alleged perpetrators conducting crimes,” he said.
“In between them, they tap into a number of people, agents of IRGC and people that they know in the criminal world and work through there.”
Anthony Albanese, Director-General of Security of Australia Mike Burgess, AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and ASIO boss Mike Burgess announced the Iran attacks in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
Mr Burgess said investigations had been ongoing since October 2024, and involved ASIO’s intelligence operations and the Australian Federal Police.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Iran’s actions had “crossed a line”.
She also urged Australians not to travel to Iran, however acknowledged that while many Australians “have family connections in Iran”.
“We’ll continue to maintain some diplomatic lines to advance the interests of Australians. In relation to our embassy in Iran, Australia had an embassy in Iran since 1968,” he said.
“At that time and since that time it’s never been an endorsement of the regime, it’s been a channel to advocate for our interests and for our people.”
Ley: Coalition ‘entirely united’ with Labor
During question time, Sussan Ley said the expulsion of Mr Sadeghi and the terrorist listing of the IRGC were “entirely necessary actions the Coalition has previously called for, and supports”.
The Opposition Leader said the Coalition was “disgusted” to learn of the “chilling foreign interference,” and said the opposition were “entirely united” with Labor’s action.
“These acts of egregious foreign interference are brazen attempts to cleaver apart our social cohesion, to turn neighbour against neighbour and Australian against Australian,” he said.
“I therefore want to make it abundantly clear from the opposition, while we sit opposite the government in this chamber, we’re entirely united on the measures announced today to expel the Iranian ambassador and list the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has a terrorist organisation.”
The Adass Synagogue fire which shocked the Jewish community in December 2024 was also linked to the Iranian government. Picture: NewsWire/ Andrew Henshaw
Promptly after the announcement, Australia’s Israeli embassy welcomed Mr Albanese’s decision to list the IRGC as a terrorist organisation.
“This is a step we have long advocated for,” it shared in a statement on X.
“Iran’s regime is not only a threat to Jews or Israel, it endangers the entire free world, including Australia.
“A strong and important move.”
Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler also welcomed Labor’s response, and said it sent a “powerful and principled message that terrorism, foreign interference, and hate have no place in Australia”.
“The IRGC has for decades orchestrated violence and directed and funded extremist networks well beyond Iran’s borders,” he said.
“Today’s announcement proves what we have long warned; that Iran’s malign reach extends into western democracies, including here in Australia.”
Leave a Reply