Australia news LIVE: Israel slams Australia’s UN ‘flip-flop’; Politicians, Jewish leaders condemn suspected firebombing of Melbourne synagogue

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of condoning the ostracising of the Jewish community in Australia in the wake of an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue.

Speaking at a press conference in the NSW town of Kiama, Dutton said he would “always stand up for people of Jewish faith”.

“They should be treated equally with every other Australian,” Dutton said.

“The way they have been ostracised in our country and the way that has been condoned, directly, by the prime minister and others just has no place in our society.”

He called on the prime minister to provide “very detailed” information on the government’s UN stances in relation to Israel, accusing him of a “complete departure” from Australia’s bipartisan position on the issues.

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Australia dropped its two-decade-long stance to vote in support of a UN resolution calling for an “irreversible pathway” to Palestinian statehood. The stance was last supported by Australia in 2001 under the Howard government.

“It’s impossible to imagine the Bob Hawke or Paul Keating or even Kevin Rudd or Julia Gillard would have taken the path that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has,” Dutton said.

“I think it has left our country less safe, I think it has created an air of uncertainty and, frankly, a lot of people in the Jewish community don’t only feel uncertain, they feel unsafe.”

Dutton said the prime minister needs to stand up for our values, “not just here at home, but also in the United Nations and elsewhere around the world”.

Follow our dedicated live blog for rolling updates on the Melbourne synagogue arson attack.