One in three Australians has expressed negative views towards Muslims and the hatred is ongoing.
Findings from a report by special envoy to combat Islamophobia Aftab Malik were released by the prime minister on Friday.
“Australians should be able to feel safe and at home in any community,” Anthony Albanese told reporters in Sydney.
“The targeting of Australians based on their religious beliefs is not only an attack on them, but it’s an attack on our core values.
“We must stamp out the hate, fear and prejudice that drives Islamophobia and division in our society.”
The government has been holding off from acting on recommendations by Anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal, as Labor wanted to consider the two reports together.
Islamophobic incidences had “skyrocketed”, with the Islamophobia register recording a 150 per cent increase by November 2024, Mr Malik said.
One in three Australians had expressed negative views about Muslims, with the community rated the most negatively viewed group, research found.
“The reality is that Islamophobia in Australia has been persistent, at times ignored and other times denied, but never fully addressed,” Mr Malik said.
“This report demonstrates that Islamophobia remains a deeply ingrained societal challenge, and as such will require to be confronted with equal urgency to other discriminatory practices.”
To combat hatred against Jewish people, Ms Segal recommended Australia adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, which some groups argue conflates criticism of Israel.
Her report urges the government cut funding to universities, programs or academics that enable or fail to act against anti-Semitism.
It also argues public funding agreements with festivals or cultural institutions should include terms to allow for the termination of the agreement when they promote or facilitate hatred against Jewish people.
Ms Segal was appointed in July 2024, in response to rising anti-Semitism in Australia following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.
Mr Malik’s three-year appointment was made several months after the announcement of Ms Segal.
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