Josh Frydenberg says the scale of the death and destruction of the Holocaust must never be forgotten, warning such a tragedy could happen again.
The federal treasurer, visiting Hobart to unveil plans for a Holocaust museum, is the son of a Jewish Hungarian born mother who escaped the Holocaust and arrived in Australia as a refugee.
"The scale of the death and destruction must never ever be forgotten," Mr Frydenberg told the Hobart Synagogue.
"If there was a minute's silence observed for every Jewish life that was lost in the holocaust it would go for 11 years."
He said the museum will help people remember the tragedy.
"I still can't fathom how the German people, so cultured and educated, with Mozart and Wagner and many other distinguished names you are familiar with, could descend to such inhumanity to their fellow man," an emotional Mr Frydenberg said.
"But what it does remind me of is that it can happen again."
Hobart is home to Australia's oldest synagogue, which opened in July 1845.
The federal government will provide $2 million towards the education centre.
