Labor preferences spark alarm in Jewish community amid rising antisemitism
'For many in the Jewish community, this is not merely a political issue—it is a matter of trust, of moral clarity, and of personal safety'
Despite repeated public assurances from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that Labor would not negotiate with the Greens, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has placed the Greens second on his official ‘how to vote’ card—prompting deep concern and disappointment within Australia’s Jewish community. Another Albanese Pinocchio Lie.
This move comes at a time when many Australian Jews are feeling increasingly vulnerable. Since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, major cities have seen near-weekly rallies that often feature slogans and symbols glorifying terrorism, expressing antisemitic sentiment, and calling for the destruction of Israel. Members and representatives of the Greens have frequently attended or endorsed these rallies.
Adding to the distress, Greens campaign materials across Melbourne have recently focused almost exclusively on the message “Free Palestine.” Online, inflammatory comments posted under Greens candidate announcements include calls for Israel’s destruction and overtly violent rhetoric—rhetoric that remains uncondemned by the party.
This election is being seen by many as existential. At a time when the cost of living is soaring, immigration is at record highs, housing shortages are worsening, and crime rates are climbing, the Greens continue to focus on a single, divisive issue: Palestine. While everyday Australians are grappling with urgent domestic problems, the Greens appear fixated on international activism.
Meanwhile, key Greens figures have remained largely silent on the environment—once the party’s core mission. Critics have pointed to Senator Mehreen Faruqi, who has been more vocal about the conflict in the Middle East than environmental concerns. The party that once championed green values under Bob Brown has, according to many, lost its way. Accusations of hypocrisy have followed: preaching climate action while flying business class, promoting environmentalism while reportedly removing trees to make way for townhouse developments.
This is not just political manoeuvring—this is a matter of Jewish safety and dignity. We’re being told one thing in statements but seeing another on official voting cards. This sounds very much like negotiating with the Greens. Have I tripped you up on another lie Albanese? That’s right, you tripped up but didn’t trip up. I digress.
The Greens have also supported university protest encampments that have led to Jewish students reporting harassment and feeling unsafe on campus. Greens members have backed movements that support doxing Jewish creatives and targeting Jewish-owned businesses, further fuelling community unease.
Against this backdrop, the decision by Mark Dreyfus—a man who just months ago represented Australia at the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau—to preference the Greens, has shocked many. As the son of a Holocaust survivor, his political actions are being seen as a betrayal of both his personal legacy and his responsibility to protect Australia’s Jewish population.
In the seat of Macnamara—home to one of the country’s largest Jewish populations—Labor MP Josh Burns also declined to answer directly in a recent debate whether he would place the Greens last. While the Liberal candidate Benson Saulo confirmed the Greens would be listed last on his ticket, Burns chose instead to run an open card rather than put the Greens last. In contrast, Dreyfus went further by putting Greens candidate Matthew Kirwan at number two.
All of this comes just as the Jewish world marked 80 years since the liberation of Bergen-Belsen. The juxtaposition is not lost on many. As the memory of the Holocaust is honoured, and as Jewish Australians face rising antisemitism in their own cities, many feel abandoned by those in leadership who claim to stand with them.
Prime Minister Albanese’s repeated promises that Labor would not work with the Greens are now being questioned. For many in the Jewish community, this is not merely a political issue—it is a matter of trust, of moral clarity, and of personal safety. Shameful.
Shane Shmuel is a member of the Melbourne Jewish community. He supports the Liberal Party.
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