Jillian Segal appointed government special envoy on antisemitism
'I have spoken with members of the Jewish community here and in Melbourne, right around Australia, who have not felt safe. That's not acceptable'
Executive Council of Australia (ECAJ) immediate past president Jillian Segal has been appointed Australia’s first special envoy to combat antisemitism.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement at the Sydney Jewish Museum on Tuesday morning.
“We have seen since October 7 last year, a significant rise in antisemitism in Australia. And that is why the government has made the decision to appoint a special envoy on antisemitism. I’m very pleased that Jillian Segal has agreed to take up that role,” Albanese said.
“I have spoken with members of the Jewish community here and in Melbourne, right around Australia, who have not felt safe. That’s not acceptable, ever, and certainly not in Australia in 2024.”
The prime minister noted that the war between Israel and Hamas “has caused a great deal of grief for the Jewish community and for members of the Islamic and Palestinian communities”. “Australians overwhelmingly do not want conflict here. What they want here is harmony and for people to be able to get on with each other,” he said.
“As a democracy, we encourage people to be able to have different views, and to discuss these issues respectfully. But that’s the key word – with respect. And that’s something that I have for Jillian Segal.”
Lamenting the rise in antisemitism around the world and locally, Segal said “beyond the numbers”, lives have been impacted in “tragic and profound ways”.
“Jewish parents, as we’ve heard, worried about sending their children to school. Jewish artists, authors, musicians subjected to exclusion and shadow bans, Jewish members of the LGBTQ community excluded,” she said.
“We see small business owners who have lost their livelihoods to boycotts and vandalism. And all this affects the vibrancy and cohesion of the community more generally. And this is not the Australia we want.”
Segal said there “is no single answer to the perennial problem of antisemitism”.
“But the creation of this role shows a determination by the government to confront this evil and to ensure that it does not erode the goodness that exists in our society,” she said.
“I’m honoured to be given this opportunity to serve my country and my community, it’s an enormous privilege and I will seek to discharge it faithfully.”
The ECAJ commended Albanese and the government for “taking this initiative in response to the unprecedented surge of antisemitism” since October 7.
“These developments have threatened the safety and security not only of Australia’s Jewish community but also of Australia as a whole and its future as a peaceful, free, cohesive and tolerant multicultural society,” ECAJ president Daniel Aghion said.
“A special envoy will be able to investigate, and report to government on the nature, extent and impact of antisemitism in Australia, and will make recommendations to counteract it.
“We are delighted that Jillian Segal has been appointed to this important position. She will bring deep knowledge of the issues and immense energy to the role, and we are confident that she will carry out her duties with integrity and distinction.”
comments