Davis slams stance
"Australia has got to be in a position where we are not one-sided, but we do need to respect the contribution of the Jewish community; it is a democracy."
Former prime minister Bob Hawke “would be turning in his grave” over the government’s change in language over the Israeli–Palestinian issue, Member for Southern Metropolitan David Davis (pictured) told Victoria’s Legislative Council last week.
“The Labor Party nationally have flagged a number of concerning changes,” Davis told the House on Tuesday, referring to Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s announcement that Australia would begin referring to all areas conquered by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day Was as “Occupied Palestinian Territory” and all Israeli settlements in the West Bank as “illegal”.
“All of this has certainly upset many in the Jewish community,” he said.
“Australia has got to be in a position where we are not one-sided, but we do need to respect the contribution of the Jewish community; it is a democracy.”
The Shadow Special Minister of State added that “these matters actually affect harmony here, too”.
“I do not think they should have changed the description. This seems to be some left-wing pressure inside the Australian Labor Party at a national level, but it has repercussions into areas here. My electorate has many Jewish community members in particular,” Davis said.
“I think Bob Hawke would be turning in his grave and I think this is the wrong decision, and I call on the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and the Premier, if possible, to advocate against this move, to actually pull Senator Wong into line and ensure that harmony is preserved in Victoria.”
Later in the week on Thursday, Davis raised a constituency question regarding the recent survey conducted on behalf of the Zionist Federation of Australia and the Australasian Union of Jewish Students that found two in three Jewish students had experienced antisemitism on campus.
“I am asking the Minister for Higher Education what action she will take to fight antisemitism in our universities,” he stated.
“Specifically, the organisation is seeking a meeting with Labor Party members. They want to set up a meeting, a briefing, and I ask: Will you set up such a briefing for Labor Party members, who appear not to quite understand how significant this antisemitic behaviour is?”
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