Anthony Albanese says those behind a spate of anti-Semitic attacks in New South Wales and Victoria appear to be paid actors rather than ideologically motivated perpetrators, appearing to confirm police investigations Target.

But the Prime Minister rejected the Coalition's demands to reveal more details about the Australian Federal Police investigation, suggesting it could harm efforts to track down alleged criminals.

Al's comments came after AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw revealed on Wednesday morning that the federal police were investigating whether overseas actors paid local operatives to carry out anti-Semitic attacks in Australia, including using cryptocurrency. Barneys faced a series of questions Wednesday morning.

The inquiry also includes the possibility of young people being radicalized online to carry out anti-Semitic attacks.

Albanese declined to reveal further details about the AFP investigation and did not speculate on the country from which the foreign actors who might be behind the attack might be from.

But he did appear to confirm that those believed to be behind the attacks were paid actors rather than people driven by anti-Semitic ideology.

"I'm not willing to say anything that would jeopardize these investigations," he said.

"But it's important that people understand where some of these attacks are coming from, and as the AFP commissioner said yesterday, some of these attacks are carried out by people who have no particular problem, who have no motive. They are ideologically influenced, but they are all paid actors. ”

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton asked why Albanese had not previously publicly discussed the AFP investigation.

"When did the Prime Minister find out there were foreign players? Were these state actors or organized crime groups? Or were they anti-Semitic groups? What did the Prime Minister know?" he said.

"With all due respect, I understand people's desire for more information."

Speaking on the ABC's RN Breakfast program, shadow home secretary James Paterson also said suggestions of potential overseas involvement was a "very serious proposition" that needed urgent clarification from the prime minister.

"If this is true, if confirmed, it would either mean that a transnational terrorist organization is funding attacks in Australia, or that a foreign government may be engaging in state-sponsored terror targeting the Jewish community," he said.

“Making such claims now would make it the worst peacetime internal security crisis in Australia’s history and would cause incredible alarm in the Jewish community.

"Therefore, more information is needed on this claim."

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke defended the decision not to release more specific information about the AFP investigation and investigative leads, saying Patterson's request for more information was "probably naive".

"What the Australian Federal Police releases to the public and the timing of it is very well thought out," he told state broadcaster.

"The decisions they made were intended to advance the investigation. I can't add to anything that has been released... They should be releasing information that they believe will help the investigation."

In a statement ahead of Tuesday's national cabinet meeting, Kershaw said Avalite, the federal-led anti-Semitism operation, had received 166 reports, 15 of which were being investigated.

Albanese said after the meeting that 36 people had been charged with "anti-Semitism-related offences" in New South Wales and 70 people had been arrested in Victoria.

New South Wales police on Wednesday morning charged a man for allegedly trying to set fire to a synagogue in Newtown, in Sydney's west, earlier this month, with Burke promising "many more" people will be arrested and charged behind such incidents. .