Motion to be heard in Parliament
Federal Parliament is expected to pass a bipartisan motion calling for the urgent extradition to Australia of alleged child sexual abuser Malka Leifer.
FEDERAL Labor MP Josh Burns and Liberal MP Dave Sharma will tonight move a motion in Parliament calling for alleged child sexual abuser Malka Leifer to be extradited to Australia.
The bipartisan motion – which is expected to pass the house – will acknowledge “the bravery of Ms Leifer’s alleged victims – especially Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper for their tireless pursuit of justice”, and note that “over five years have elapsed, and over 60 court hearings have been held in Israel, since this extradition request was first lodged, without any significant progress having been made”.
It will also call for the “immediate extradition of Malka Leifer to Australia to face 74 charges of child sexual abuse”.
Alleged victim Dassi Erlich welcomed the motion, stating it was “important this issue remains outstanding in the minds of the Israeli legal and political establishment”.
She said she felt “validated this frustrating process will not be ignored” by the Australian government until extradition proceedings are honoured by Israel.
Update re the #bringleiferback motion.
With so many members of parliament from both sides of the aisle standing on behalf of the #bringleiferback the clock ran out, there was not enough time to pass the motion today. The motion will be resumed tomorrow.— Dassi Erlich #bringleiferback (@dassi_erlich) February 10, 2020
“To our friends in Israel we say: it is time to act. Do the right thing and support justice for victims in both our countries,” Sharma said.
“We have been exceptionally patient in this case, but enough is enough.”
“Allegations of interference in this case, especially by the Israeli Minister for Health, Yaakov Litzman, are shameful,” Burns added.
Full coverage in this week’s AJN.
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