Respect
The Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum has generated robust discussion.
And indeed it should – public policy should always be vigorously debated to ensure the best outcomes. This means hearing and respecting the views of stakeholders of all political persuasions, so that we are informed.
The key in all this is that debate should focus on the issues at hand and remain civil and respectful at all times. There should be no place for conspiracy theories, racism, antisemitism or any other kind of hatred or discrimination.
Our Jewish community is a broad tent. Just as many people within it support the Voice proposal, there are many who oppose the Voice or who have concerns about it. That is why the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) has every right to support a “No” vote and to argue its case for that outcome.
But the words of its president David Adler on Sky News Outsiders, when asked why a number of Jewish roof bodies support the Voice, were very poorly chosen. “It relates to the principle of ‘follow the money’,” he responded, before outlining why Jewish communal organisations after government grants, or Jewish-owned businesses wanting government contracts, might want to endear themselves to the Labor Party.
It is a shame the AJA feels the need to continuously denigrate our roof bodies rather than just merely disagree with them. But arguably, using the phrase “follow the money” when speaking about the Jewish community is especially unfortunate.
Meanwhile, the antisemitic tweets that surfaced earlier this week after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed gratitude to the Jewish groups who are supporting a “Yes” vote are nothing short of deplorable.
The vitriol aimed at Mark Leibler, Josh Burns, Julian Leeser, Mark Dreyfus and other high-profile Jews goes to the core of the very worst antisemitic canards involving Jews, money and purported Jewish influence over politics.
This is not free speech, it is hate speech, and as such should be removed from Twitter immediately.
The Voice proposal has the potential to have major ramifications for Australia. Let’s debate the pros and cons in an atmosphere of tolerance and respect.
comments