When Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke denies visas to Israelis, he likes to insist that Australia will not “import hate.” Yet how does that square with his fundamental duty to keep Australians safe, particularly after the Bondi Beach terrorist attack on the first night of Hanukkah last year and after the government rushed through new hate-speech laws?

At the time, I warned that if those hastily introduced laws did not ensure the prosecution of Islamic clerics preaching anti-Jewish rhetoric, they would be little more than political theatre. Australia already had hate speech laws, the problem was that they were rarely enforced against radical figures like Sheikh Dadoun and Wissam Haddad.

Dadoun has repeatedly called Jews “enemies of Islam” and exhorted Muslims to reject any association with them, describing them collectively as deceitful, hostile, and conspiratorial. He also led celebrations following the October 7 attacks on Israel, further highlighting his alignment with violent antisemitic rhetoric. Dadoun was “elated” at the violent and barbaric slaughter of 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of 250 hostages into Gaza.

Haddad, of Sydney’s Al Madina Dawah Centre, portrayed Jews as “treacherous,” “vile,” and “mischievous” in his lecture series The Jews of Al-Madina, even citing an apocalyptic hadith: “There is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.” In 2025, the Federal Court found Haddad’s lectures breached the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 and ordered the content removed. Reporting also notes that one of the Bondi attackers, Naveed Akram, had previously been exposed to Haddad’s preaching, though authorities insist Haddad had no prior knowledge of the attack.

Yet just a week ago, Bangladeshi preacher Mizanur Rahman Azhari entered Australia for a national speaking tour, including Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra. Azhari has previously praised Adolf Hitler as “divine punishment” against Jews, described them as the “biggest terrorists in the world,” and called them a “poisonous blemish” linked to global crises and disease. He has also been barred from entering the United Kingdom. Australian authorities reportedly became aware of his presence only after social-media posts surfaced. His visa was cancelled the next day, and he was deported, permanently barred from returning. You cannot make this stuff up, literally!

The story did not end there. Just days later, Shaykh Ahmadullah arrived in Australia on a visitor visa and was seen in Melbourne ahead of a speaking tour. He has publicly stated that Jewish people “keep the whole world in turmoil,” suggested a Jewish global conspiracy, and labelled Jews “despicable.” He is scheduled to speak at events organised by the Islamic Practice and Dawah Circle. To be clear, he is currently in Australia.

In the days after the Bondi attack, Burke and other Labor ministers offered condolences to the Jewish community. But gestures ring hollow when the same government allows inflammatory preachers into the country, acting only after media exposure. Any wonder Albanese was booed as he arrived at the Bondi memorial? Assistant Immigration Minister Matt Thistlethwaite pledged to tighten migration powers to prevent people who promote antisemitism or preach hate from entering Australia. Visa rules, he said, would be strengthened so ministers can refuse or cancel visas for those who “preach hate and division” or promote violence. Yet, in practice, two controversial preachers arrived before any action was taken. The media are not responsible for vetting visa applicants, Home Affairs is.

This raises broader questions. Was this the same level of scrutiny applied before roughly 3,000 Gazans arrived in Australia during the Gaza war? Or to returning ISIS-linked families? Labor ministers frequently invoke the phrase “social cohesion,” yet permitting hate preachers while denying Israeli speakers does little to promote it.

The double standard is not merely frustrating, it is dangerous. While pro-Palestinian activists and radical socialists post online about which Israeli speakers are arriving, Burke cancels their visas under the guise of “social cohesion.” How does a speaker discussing Israeli innovation, entrepreneurship, or Knesset politics constitute a threat? Laws designed to combat hatred lose credibility when applied selectively, and communities that feel only partially protected naturally lose trust in the institutions meant to safeguard them.

It also seems repeatedly evident that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cares more about shoring up the Western Sydney vote than genuinely protecting social cohesion, upholding Australian values, or ensuring the safety and security of Australians. High walls and extra security are not the answer. You will never eradicate the threat of terrorism and hate if you continue to allow them to preach their hate with no consequence. The sooner this government gets it, the better. Sadly, I don’t think they want to get it as a vote is what matters most.

Consider Hillel Fuld, an Israeli entrepreneur invited last year to speak at charity events supporting Magen David Adom, Israel’s version of the International Red Cross. He promotes resilience, innovation, and philanthropy. In 2018, his brother Ari was murdered in a Palestinian terror attack; despite being fatally wounded, Ari managed to stop his attacker from harming others. Yet Burke’s department blocked Fuld’s visa under section 128 of the Migration Act 1958.

Hours before arrival, the same happened to Sammy Yahood, a British Israeli influencer, whose “Peace Through Strength” program seeks to empower Jewish communities facing rising threats. His visa was cancelled under the expanded character provisions of the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Act 2026, after the government deemed his social-media posts, including critical commentary on Islam, sufficiently “spreading hatred” to justify refusal of entry. In practice, this meant that Yahood, whose work is aimed at community safety and resilience, was treated as a threat.

On paper, these denials may appear principled. In practice, they are selective. Burke has also barred Israeli parliamentary ministers including Simcha Rothman and Ayelet Shaked, while inflammatory figures like Haddad, Dadoun, Ahmadullah, and Azhari face little or no enforcement. The irony is inescapable. Burke himself reportedly told former MP Michael Danby never to invite him to an Israeli or Jewish event. an unsettling statement from a senior cabinet minister now wielding the power to silence Jewish voices under the guise of national security.. This double standard erodes trust, making hate laws appear symbolic rather than protective.

The Bondi massacre should have been a wake-up call. Australia’s expanded hate laws must be applied consistently and transparently if they are to protect the public from extremism. Otherwise, they risk becoming instruments of political theatre rather than genuine safety measures. Jewish Australians do not want fortress-like institutions. They want to walk safely through their own suburbs. The question is whether the government will ever apply that promise equally, and secondly, will we restore our ‘good relationship’ with our only democratic ally in the Middle East? It seems the answer is not under the current Australian government.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)