Knox highlights commitment to Jewish community
'The Jewish community need the strongest of friends the most consistent of friends,' the Liberal candidate says
Liberal candidate for Wentworth, Ro Knox, emphasised her strong stance against antisemitism and support for the Jewish community during her campaign launch at Centennial Homestead on Thursday evening.
Knox’s speech highlighted serious concerns about rising antisemitism since October 7, 2023. She noted that there has been “an increase of over 700 per cent in antisemitism” including “arson, vandalism, threats” occurring directly in the Wentworth electorate.
Knox also emphasised her personal connection to Israel, mentioning she had studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1995,
“Unlike my opponent, I have actually been to Israel,” Knox said. (The AJN understands that Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender wanted to travel to Israel post-October 7 but did not for family reasons.)
“The Jewish community need the strongest of friends the most consistent of friends,” Knox added, adding that “the only Party to sign the ECAJ’s [Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s] comprehensive plan to combat antisemitism is the Liberal Party.”
During her speech, Knox urged Spender to place the Greens last on preferences, describing them as “antisemitic” and “anti-innovation.”
“With the largest Jewish population of any electorate in Australia, putting the Greens last shouldn’t be a debate — it should be a given,” Knox said.
Beyond Jewish community issues, Knox focused heavily on economic concerns, stating that Australians are experiencing “the greatest decline in disposable income in your lifetimes” under the current government.
She highlighted conversations with constituents struggling with housing affordability, small business owners facing high energy prices and complex industrial relations laws, and entrepreneurs concerned about lack of economic growth.
Knox pledged to fight for better childcare options and promised to restore funding to a local domestic violence shelter.
She criticised the current Labor government, as well as the Teals and Greens, for what she called “anti-business policies” and argued that “we need a change for the better”.
The launch was attended by Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley MP, Senators Andrew Bragg and Maria Kovacic, and state Vaucluse MP Kellie Sloane, among others.
Wentworth, located in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, is home to a sizeable Jewish population. In the 2021 Census, approximately 16.2 per cent of residents in the seat identified their religion as Jewish, equating to around 22,680 people.
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