Mark Dreyfus takes aim at antisemitism
“It’s the responsibility of every part of Australian society” to fight against antisemitism”, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus declared last week.
Addressing the Sydney Institute, Dreyfus was asked what action the government was taking to combat the problem, the incidence of which has risen sharply since October 7. While agreeing the government needed to do more, Dreyfus said it was not its burden alone.
“It’s the responsibility of universities who have not done enough. It’s the responsibility of business. It’s the responsibility of arts and cultural organisations,” he said.
“It’s the responsibility of Members of Parliament and everyone in any position of any influence to fight against antisemitism, which, of course, as we know from history, starts with words, and we have to do more.”
Dreyfus said the government has “been looking for ways to do more”.
“I’m very proud that our government has been able to appoint Jillian Segal as the first special envoy to combating antisemitism,” he said. “I’ve been talking to Ms Segal about her role, and I’m very much looking forward to hearing from her more with public statements about what more can be done.”
Asked about antisemitism at universities, Dreyfus said, “It’s apparent to me from talking to Jewish students, it’s apparent to me from talking to the parents of Jewish students around Australia, that Jewish students on Australian campuses, at least some of them, do not feel safe, and that tells me that more needs to be done by Australian universities.
“Until we get to a situation where every Australian student, no matter what their religion, no matter what their beliefs, no matter who they are, feels entirely safe on campus, universities are not doing their job … all universities have codes of conduct. They should be enforcing them.”
He added “we have to work at countering antisemitism in all its forms”.
“One of the reasons we have Holocaust education in our country and many countries around the world is somehow through teaching about the horrors of the Holocaust to remind people of where antisemitism can lead,” he said. “It’s something that I would like to see taught more in schools.”
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