Albanese calls for protest ban outside places of worship as critics warn against ‘kneejerk reactions’

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, condemned demonstrations outside places of worship appearing to reference protests outside Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral during George Pell’s 2023 funeral. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Anthony Albanese says protests should be banned outside places of worship like synagogues and churches, claiming such demonstrations cause “division”.

The prime minister gave his strongest denunciation yet of antisemitism on Wednesday following anti-Israel vandalism in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, saying the “horrific” acts of recent days diminished Australia as a nation.