“It wasn’t the bus driver’s fault”
A Jewish bus driver said his colleague had to stop for the six teenagers that abused the Jewish students on Wednesday.
He said that drivers are instructed to pick up any children in a school uniform.
“If the school students hail us down then we have to pick them up,” the bus driver told The AJN.
“It’s not about safety anymore, it’s just about money so it wasn’t the bus driver’s fault they he picked up the kids.”
He said the people to blame are the bureaucrats that make the rules.
“The bus driver was doing his job because, although the Jewish schools might think they charter the bus, the reality is that they do not.
“The problem is with the system and it needs to be changed.”
Five arrested after Sydney Jewish students left terrified
A spokesperson for State Transit confirmed that school buses are for all school children.
“Bus drivers are required to pick up school children and reports that this was a private school bus is a miscommunication,” the spokesman said.
“It was a public school bus serving a number of schools and it was appropriate for the bus to pick up other school children.”
Five people have been arrested by police after Jewish students were left terrified and subjected to anti-Semitic taunts while on the school bus yesterday afternoon.
The children, between the ages of five and 12, were travelling on Darley Road in Randwick on the way home from Mount Sinai College and Emanuel School when six teenagers, described as caucasian males, boarded the bus.
Federal Member for Wentworth Malcolm Turnbull said the attack “will strike a chill into the heart of every parent, indeed every Australian”.
“Racism has no place in Australia. We must have zero tolerance for racism, zero tolerance for racist abuse. And directing that kind of language at children is especially appalling,” he said.
“The police and the courts will deal with the offenders in this case, but all of us should pause and reflect on our obligation, whatever our calling, to be always vigilant in opposing racism and racist language.”
State Member for Vaucluse Gabrielle Upton said she was “appalled” by the attack.
“My thoughts are with the children involved and their families,” she said.
In a statement, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) said it was “deeply concerned” at the attack.
“It is unacceptable for school children to be subjected to such a terrifying ordeal,” the ECAJ said.
“Any abuse directed at children is deplorable. It is particularly so when that abuse is racial in nature and accompanied by threats of extreme violence. It demonstrates a hatred and cowardice that should concern all Australians.
“Initial police reports indicate that the incident was opportunistic rather than premeditated.
“We are grateful to the New South Wales Police for their swift action in response to this incident, which has resulted in the arrests of five teenagers.
“In light of the disturbing rise of anti-Semitic incidents in our society, we call on Australian leaders across all spheres of our society, to show moral leadership and condemn unequivocally yesterday’s incident and the underlying causes of it.”
Member for Heffron Ron Hoenig said he was outraged that in 2014, Australia is a country where this behaviour exists.
“It appears now that this anti-Semitism has filtered down to the younger generation…. It is a terrifying prospect,” he said.
“This disgusting anti-Semitic behaviour, no doubt fuelled by the conflict in the Middle East has absolutely no place in our communities.
“This event is likely to have a lasting effect on these students.
“There comes a time when enough is enough. When innocent children in Australia become victims of abuse fuelled by a conflict they have nothing to do with, there must be change.”
Member for Kingsford Smith Matt Thistlethwaite said the attack was “sickening”.
“The language used by these teenagers was abhorrent and totally unacceptable. Incidents such as this highlight why we need provisions such as section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, and why I and many members of our community campaigned against the Abbott government’s proposed changes to 18C,” he said.
“I sympathise with the families and the young school children themselves for having to experience such an ugly, hateful incident. It is a sign of weakness to attack innocent children in such a manner.
“I offer my support to the Jewish community.”
AJN STAFF
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