Experts condemn false antisemitism claims
The AEC is investigating the incident for a potential breach of Section 327 of the Electoral Act 1918.
Jewish experts have condemned fraudulent letters falsely claiming to be from “Your Jewish Neighbour” in the Goldstein electorate as an attempt to silence political speech.
The letters, distributed to residents displaying support for MP Zoe Daniel, made baseless claims that her campaign materials resembled Nazi Germany propaganda.
Adjunct Associate Professor Andre Oboler and Professor Emerita Suzanne Rutland called these accusations “utterly preposterous” and “exceedingly harmful.”
“The signs contained no Nazi symbols, were not in the same colours, did not contain antisemitic messages, and have no resemblance to racist and antisemitic political signs of the 1930s-1940s,” they stated.
Both experts, who serve on the Australian Government’s Delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, warned such unfounded accusations constitute “Holocaust minimisation and trivialisation” that weakens society’s ability to confront genuine antisemitism.
The experts expressed sympathy for those “wrongly bullied with false accusations of antisemitism” and noted that such tactics harm both the targeted individuals and the Jewish community by undermining legitimate concerns about real antisemitism.
They urged the Jewish community and wider public to “stand firm in the face of this campaign of harassment of individuals and harm to the Jewish community.”
The Australian Electoral Commission is investigating the incident, which may violate Section 327 of the Electoral Act 1918, an offence carrying penalties of up to three years imprisonment.
Meanwhile, Executive Council of Australian Jewry President Daniel Aghion addressed the issue of civil behaviour as pre-polling gets underway nationwide, acknowledging the “turbulent and often distressing eighteen-month period” for the Jewish community.
“It is the nature of our democracy that we will agree with some parties and candidates on these issues, and disagree with others, sometimes profoundly,” Aghion said.
He said rudeness or threatening or abusive behaviour is never acceptable.
“It is not the Jewish way. And it is counterproductive”.
He called for respectful engagement during the election campaign, saying, “When doing so, it is essential that each of us acts in a dignified and respectful manner to all volunteers and candidates involved in this federal election, regardless of their policies or viewpoints.”
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