Leeser and Burns win McKinnon Prize for bipartisan leadership
Both MPs emphasised that their shared Jewish identity shaped their understanding of the stakes involved.
Federal Liberal MP Julian Leeser and Labor MP Josh Burns have jointly received the McKinnon Prize for excellence in political leadership, recognised for their bipartisan cooperation in combating the surge of antisemitism in Australia.
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) congratulated both parliamentarians, with Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein noting they had “maintained respectful strong bipartisan cooperation and principled leadership on issues of vital importance to the Jewish community, including the unprecedented explosion of antisemitism in Australia and how to contain it.”
Both MPs emphasised that their shared Jewish identity shaped their understanding of the stakes involved.
“To be a Jew is to understand that we are part of a long and unbroken chain,” Leeser told The AJN.
“In knowing that history, you become conscious of the fragility of freedom and where mistreatment and intimidation of Jews ultimately lead.”
Burns said their Jewish backgrounds clearly formed “a big part of who both of us are and who both and the backgrounds and our families and our communities that we were both raised in.”
However, both stressed their relationship extended beyond shared heritage to genuine mutual respect and friendship.
“Julian and I genuinely respect each other and we like each other and we like each other as people,” Burns said. “I’ve always admired Julian Leeser. I’ve been proud to do things alongside him.”
Leeser reciprocated, describing Burns as “warm, engaging and terrific company, even though we disagree on plenty.”
Both MPs have taken positions that sometimes conflicted with their own parties.
Leeser supported the Aboriginal Voice to Parliament and has been critical of the Albanese Government’s handling of antisemitism, including delays in listing the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist group, implementing antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal’s recommendations, and introducing mandatory minimum sentences for hate crimes.
“Antisemitism is not a left-right issue, it’s a right-wrong issue,” Leeser said. “The public want more people in politics to take principled stands, even when they’re costly.”
Burns emphasised the importance of disagreeing respectfully.
“It’s how you disagree that really matters,” he said. “I certainly have never tried to diminish any of my colleagues in any way even if I do disagree with them.”
The MPs spoke warmly of what they had learned from each other.
Leeser praised Burns’s response to the firebombing of his office, highlighting “dignity, courage and level-headedness” and his ability to “recognise the dignity of Palestinians too” while standing up for the Jewish community.
Burns recalled Leeser’s press conference on the Voice as a defining moment.
“Someone’s intellect and sincerity and authenticity really shone through,” he said.
“I certainly try and take a little bit out of that sort of calm and thoughtful demeanour that is typically Julian Leeser.”
Both emphasised that while Question Time creates an impression of constant conflict, much parliamentary work involves genuine collaboration across party lines through committees and friendship groups.
Dr Rubenstein said he hoped Leeser and Burns would “serve as an example to other politicians across the political spectrum in Australia.”