While no detonator was found in the vehicle at Dural in northwest Sydney on January 19, the sinister discovery sent shockwaves through the nation during a wave of anti-Semitic attacks.
"That these highly publicised examples of anti-Semitism have turned out to be organised crime for a completely different motive does not change the fact that bigotry is unacceptable," Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
"It'll take a bit of processing but it doesn't undo the fear and concern people have.
"Now that we know what it is, at least that is not from a deep-seated hatred within the Australian community but that doesn't change the fact that anti-Semitism is real."
The incident had also been used to pit Australians against each other and Mr Burke said he had seen the impacts in his electorate, which has a large Muslim population.
"The blaming and suspicion of the Muslim community throughout those attacks is something that was well and truly part of the public narrative," Mr Burke said.
"All forms of bigotry are wrong."
Attempts by politicians and media to link anti-Semitic incidents with efforts to support Palestinians were "irresponsible and dangerous", Jewish Council of Australia executive officer Sarah Schwartz said.
"Individuals are seeking to exploit the Jewish community, and the broader public's concern about anti-Semitism," she said.
"Disinformation and irresponsible reporting is providing a permissive environment for these malicious acts."
The home affairs minister pointed the finger at Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and accused him of regurgitating a narrative created by organised crime groups.
"Peter Dutton made a decision to not find out the facts from the Australian Federal Police, to ignore the advice from (Australian Security Intelligence Organisation) in lowering the temperature, simply because it suited his self-promotion ambitions," Mr Burke said.
"That is the very definition of being reckless with national security."
NSW Premier Chris Minns called the incident a "despicable conspiracy" and was glad the investigation had been concluded.
"The circumstances of the plot are so unreal as to be nothing that I've encountered before," he told reporters.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said the criminals involved "sought to take advantage of already-strained social cohesion and unprecedented levels of anti-Semitism by targeting the Jewish community for their own personal benefit".
"This is reprehensible and had a chilling effect on the Jewish community," Mr Ossip said.
"Confirmation that the caravan plot was fabricated will bring some comfort to the Jewish community and we look forward to receiving further information as the investigation continues to progress."
Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the caravan was never going to cause mass casualties but was a concocted criminal plot to cause fear for their benefit.
Almost immediately on finding it, investigators believed it "was part of a fabricated terrorism plot - essentially a criminal con job", she said.
The caravan's discovery was viewed as an escalation of anti-Semitism in Australia and prompted federal opposition calls for an inquiry into when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was told of the find.
Mr Albanese, who has repeatedly condemned anti-Semitism, dismissed the need for an inquiry.
Reported cases of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia have increased in Australia since Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023 and Israel launched a war in Gaza in response.
Meanwhile, 14 people have been charged with a total of 65 offences following the investigations into multiple anti-Semitic incidents across Sydney's east between October and February.
Charges were laid against the 14 men and women aged between 18 and 41, after warrants and firearm prohibition orders were executed at premises across the city on Monday.
