MPs censure Liberal senator for ‘Hitler Youth’ jibe
JEWISH MPs from both sides of politics have criticised Queensland Liberal Senator Ian Macdonald for comments he made comparing lobby group GetUp! with the Hitler Youth last week.
JEWISH MPs from both sides of politics have criticised Queensland Liberal Senator Ian Macdonald for comments he made comparing lobby group GetUp! with the Hitler Youth last week.
During a debate on the carbon tax in the Senate last Thursday, Macdonald referred to the group, which was planning celebrations to mark the passing of the controversial legislation, as “the Hitler Youth wing of the Greens political movement”.
Macdonald stood by his words when Greens Senator Christine Milne rose on a point of order, which was rejected by Liberal Senate deputy president Stephen Parry.
Though from different parties, Jewish Liberal MP Josh Frydenberg and Labor MP Michael Danby both expressed concern at Senator Macdonald’s words.
“A robust political debate is part of a vibrant democracy, however, the use of Nazi analogies to make political points is inappropriate and offensive,” Frydenberg said.
Danby said: “It is both inappropriate and laughable for Senator Macdonald to use these Nazi comparisons with just another group of Australians, with whom he and the conservative opposition disagree.”
Senator Macdonald later offered a targeted apology for the comments.
“I want to take this opportunity to unreservedly apologise for any offence taken at my remarks by the Jewish community,” he said.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry (EACJ) executive director Peter Wertheim said any references to Nazi Germany were unfortunate. “The ECAJ has a standing policy against the inappropriate use of analogies to the Nazi genocide, especially as a way of political point scoring. Unfortunately, all sides of politics have, at times, resorted to this tactic.”
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has been quoted as saying, “’It is not language I would ever use. The senator has unreservedly apologised for the remark.”
GARETH NARUNSKY
Jewish Liberal MP Josh Frydenberg said the use of Nazi analogies is “inappropriate and offensive”.
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