The Home Affairs department warned the Australian government in November 2023 that their support favoring Israel during the Gaza conflict had angered Palestinian and Muslim communities, feeling “extremely angry” and “betrayed.” Documents obtained by Guardian Australia reveal concerns about social cohesion during this time.

A briefing document for then immigration minister Andrew Giles discussed “social cohesion measures” including a $25 million package to improve support for Palestinian, Muslim, and other communities after a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023. A total of $52.8 million had been approved for measures related to the conflict, according to the document.

The Department of Home Affairs stated that communities felt angry and betrayed by the government’s perceived one-sided support, and were distressed about the safety of individuals in Gaza. They called for more balanced statements from the government and expressed concern over an increase in Islamophobia and hate speech.

While Jewish communities appreciated the funding package, they expressed concerns about the accessibility of the funds to all Jewish Australian communities and their safety. Some community funding was allocated for media organizations to combat misinformation and disinformation. However, this decision was criticized, and some Palestinian groups were frustrated with the allocation.

Home Affairs was aware of possible issues related to the department becoming involved in media fact-checking and maintained that they would not influence editorial decisions.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said they were consulting with relevant groups to ensure the community received support during difficult times. The opposition, however, accused the Albanese government of not adequately supporting Israel and failing to offer appropriate support to combat rising incidents of anti-Semitism in Australia.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/10/labor-australia-government-israel-gaza-social-cohesion-ntwnfb