On behalf of the Coalition, my warmest wishes to Australia's resilient Jewish community as you celebrate Passover.
A festival which acknowledges the importance of faith, fortitude and freedom, Passover is of profound significance for Jewish people around the world.
This year, the events of October 7 - and the unprecedented level of anti-Semitism which has ensued - has cast a shadow over Passover celebrations.
The world must never forget what happened last year on that day of depravity. The monsters of Hamas acted with glee as they tormented their victims. They brutally murdered 1,200 people in what was the greatest loss of Jewish life on a single day since the Holocaust. And they vowed to repeat their savagery many times over until Israel is annihilated.
In the wake of Hamas' barbarity, the story of the Exodus is a reminder of the Jewish spirit of strength, solidarity and survival - a spirit which will see the Jewish people prevail over present ordeals.
As Passover is celebrated, we reflect on its core message: the importance of cherishing freedom. In solidarity with the Jewish community, we steadfastly call for Hamas to return all of the innocent civilians it still holds hostage in Gaza, including children, women and the elderly.
During the eight days of Passover, as Australia's Jewish community recounts stories of your ancestors and the deeds of Jewish people in history, know that you do not stand alone in the battle against age-old, enduring and shape-shifting anti-Semitism.
Chag Pesach Sameach.
