This report is a statistical review of antisemitic incidents in the 2021 calendar year, reported to the CSG across Australia.
CSG recorded 490 antisemitic incidents in Australia in 2021.
An average of approximately 41 antisemitic incidents took place every month in 2021.
NSW experienced the highest reported number of antisemitic incidents at 262, followed by 146 incidents in Victoria, 30 incidents in Western Australia, 28 incidents in Queensland, 11 incidents in Tasmania, seven incidents in the Australian Capital Territory and six incidents in South Australia.
The single highest category of antisemitic incident reported was abusive behaviour at 424 incidents (87 per cent), followed by 29 incidents of damage and desecration, 20 threats and 10 antisemitic assaults, including one of an identifiably Jewish individual that resulted in hospitalisation. Three assaults involved schoolchildren.
Extreme-right discourse was involved in 218 incidents, constituting 44 per cent of all incidents. CSG recorded 90 incidents involving swastikas.
Anti-Israel discourse was involved in 100 incidents, compared to 61 incidents in 2020. This represents a 64 per cent increase. CSG said it was “highly likely” due to the Israel-Gaza conflict in May 2021.
Offenders were charged in relation to six incidents, four of which occurred in NSW and two in Queensland.
