NSW Premier Chris Minns publicly condemned Wayne Swan’s controversial social media remarks about Jews booing PM Anthony Albanese at the Bondi vigil. The Minns Swan comments sparked immediate backlash from Jewish community leaders. Swan, Labour’s national president, reshared a post criticising mourners who booed the Prime Minister on 21 Dec 2025, according to media reports.
Figure 1: NSW Premier Chris Minns
The Jews booing PM incident occurred during the National Day of Reflection memorial service at Bondi Beach. The event commemorated victims of the 14 Dec 2025 terror attack that killed 15 people. The Australian politics controversy intensified when Swan endorsed content that Jewish organisations described as inflammatory and divisive.
Minns Swan Comments Rebuke Divisive Rhetoric
Chris Minns stated that Swan’s shared post “shouldn’t have been said” during media interviews on 23 Dec 2025, according to The Nightly. The Premier emphasised it was unfair to generalise about an entire community based on individual actions. He cautioned against broad-brush statements, especially from prominent political figures during times of grief.
The Minns Swan comments highlighted that not everyone at the vigil booed the Prime Minister, Minns told reporters. Media reports indicate Minns himself received a positive reception from the crowd at the same event. This contrast reflected different community responses to state versus federal leadership approaches.
Jews Booing PM at Bondi Memorial Sparks Debate
The Jews booing PM incident occurred when Albanese arrived at Bondi Beach for the memorial on 21 Dec 2025. Media reports indicate some attendees booed the Prime Minister during the service. According to Australian Jewish News, the Prime Minister was booed again when a speaker thanked him from the podium.
Media sources reported that event organisers declined Albanese’s request to speak at the memorial. David Ossip, President of the Jewish Board of Deputies, praised Minns in statements to media outlets. He stated the Premier had not missed community events and services in the wake of the attack.
Swan’s Controversial Post Sparks Australian Politics Controversy
Wayne Swan shared a post by Per Capita research fellow Everald Compton on 23 Dec 2025, according to Australian Jewish News. The original post contained politically charged statements about the Jews booing PM incident and broader Middle East conflict issues. Media reports indicate the post drew connections between the booing and international political positions.
This Australian politics controversy prompted immediate condemnation from multiple Jewish organisations. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry described the post in critical terms in their statement to the media. They called for Swan to resign over the social media activity, according to reports in Australian Jewish News.
Jewish Community Leaders Demand Swan’s Resignation
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry demanded Swan resign and called for Albanese to disavow him on 23 Dec 2025, media reports confirm. The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies joined calls for accountability. David Ossip told media outlets that Swan’s remarks were inappropriate and divisive.
Figure 3: Dr Colin Rubenstein from Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council
Dr Colin Rubenstein from Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council described Swan’s comments as disappointing in statements to J-Wire. He noted that the response at the memorial wasn’t solely directed at federal Labour. Rubenstein suggested the booing reflected community frustration with what they perceived as inadequate government responses to rising antisemitism.
Why Minns Swan Comments Highlight Labour Party Divisions
The Minns Swan comments controversy revealed divisions within the Labour Party over responses to antisemitism, political observers noted. Chris Minns emphasised his point about not generalising based on individual actions in his media statements. The Premier’s public criticism of his party’s national president was noteworthy.
Senior left-wing Labour figure Peter Moss criticised what he called a protest crackdown in statements on 24 Dec 2025, J-Wire reported. The Australian politics controversy shows differing approaches between state and federal Labour leadership. Media analysis suggests Minns has taken a more visible support role with the Jewish community compared to federal counterparts.
Minns Swan Comments Emphasise Leadership Standards
Chris Minns stressed that political leaders should show restraint during times of community grief through his Minns Swan comments, media reported. He emphasised avoiding generalisations about groups based on individual actions in his public statements. The Premier’s rebuke addressed concerns about discourse standards during sensitive periods.
Figure 4: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
The Minns Swan comments reflected broader concerns about inflammatory rhetoric, observers noted. Jewish community leaders appreciated Minns’ willingness to call out divisive statements, according to statements provided to the media. The Premier’s approach contrasted with Swan’s initial defence before his eventual apology.
How Memorial Response Differed Between Leaders
The Jews booing PM incident contrasted with Chris Minns’ reception at the same memorial, media accounts indicate. Ossip specifically thanked Minns for attending community events in statements to the press. The Premier acknowledged government responsibility during his speech on 21 Dec 2025, according to The Nightly.
Minns stated: “The government’s highest duty is to protect its citizens, and we did not do that one week ago” in his memorial address, media reported. Community leaders suggested this acknowledgment resonated with mourners. His approach demonstrated how accountability can help rebuild community trust during the Australian politics controversy period, observers noted.
FAQs
Q1. What did Chris Minns say in the Minns Swan comments?
Ans. In the Minns Swan comments, Chris Minns stated Swan’s remarks “shouldn’t have been said,” according to media reports on 23 Dec 2025.
Q2. Why were Jews booing PM at the Bondi memorial?
Ans. Community leaders suggested Jews booing PM reflected frustration with what they perceived as inadequate government responses to rising antisemitism, media reported.
Q3. What was the Australian politics controversy about?
Ans. The Australian politics controversy erupted when Wayne Swan reshared a post criticising Jewish mourners who booed the Prime Minister, reports indicate.
Q4. Did Swan apologise for the Minns Swan comments controversy?
Ans. Yes, Swan deleted his post and apologised on 24 Dec 2025, acknowledging the offence caused to the community, media confirmed.
