A man set the door of a synagogue alight and a group of protesters stormed an Israeli restaurant in Melbourne on Friday night, the latest in a wave of antisemitic attacks in Australian cities.

Australia's Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Sunday (July 6) called an alleged arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue with worshipers in the building, the latest in a series of incidents targeting the nation's Jewish community, an “attack on Australia”.

Australia’s Victoria state will set up a anti-hate task force to help frame laws giving police more powers to tackle violent protests, as it probes a suspected arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue when worshippers were inside, it says.