MPs apologise for Evian

THE world “turned its back on God’s chosen people”, federal MP Stuart Robert said last week while moving a parliamentary motion apologising for Australia’s “indifference” to the plight of European Jewry on the eve of the Holocaust.

During the 1938 Evian Conference, Australian representative Lieutenant Colonel T.W. White declared that while the fate of Europe’s Jews was of “urgent importance”, Australia “cannot do more” to assist.

Speaking to a motion he moved to “make right a great wrong”, and congratulate Israel on its 70th year of independence, Robert – the Liberal member for Fadden – said the indifference shown by Australia almost 80 years ago “worsened the impact of the Holocaust”.

“Today we vow never again to turn our back on Israel, or on our Jewish brothers and sisters, wherever they are in the world,” he said.

“Today we reaffirm our love and commitment to Israel.”

He added, “As we do this, I request that this motion be presented to Yad Vashem in this 70th year, asking that the apology be displayed beside Lieutenant Colonel White’s statement of 1938.”

Endorsing both the motion and Robert’s comments on the Evian conference, Labor MP for Eden-Monaro Mike Kelly praised the strong friendship between Australia and Israel, noting that Jews fought alongside Australian troops in various conflicts preceding the state’s establishment.

Liberal Goldstein MP Tim Wilson took aim at “those with causes who want to delegitimise the State of Israel”.

“Particularly I want to stand up and speak out always against the efforts to delegitimise the State of Israel through the United Nations,” he said.

Liberal Steve Irons and Labor MPs Mark Dreyfus and Milton Dick also expressed solidarity with the motion.

Labor Melbourne Ports MP Michael Danby commended his parliamentary colleagues, adding, “Am Yisrael chai.”

Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein said it was “heartening to read these principled, genuine statements of support”.

“We also welcome the heartfelt apology expressed for Australia’s initial lack of empathy in the 1930s towards Jews desperate to escape the Nazi persecution spreading across Europe,” he said.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Peter Wertheim said, “The speeches that were made in support of Israel by many MPs from different parties were very welcome, and will give a great deal of heart to the community at a time when Israel is once again being calumnised by sections of the media.”

GARETH NARUNSKY