Senator says police must enforce the law
Senator Bridget McKenzie accused the government of being weak and scared of the Muslim vote particularly in certain seats that they need to hold in Sydney and Melbourne.
A Federal Senator believes there is no equivalence between Islamophobia and antisemitism in Australia.
Senator Bridget McKenzie, leader of the Nationals in the Senate made the comment at an Armchair Society event at Melbourne’s Beth Weizmann last week, organised by B’nai B’rith and the Lamm Jewish Library of Australia.
“I find it appalling that the Labour government seems to think it’s an equivalent situation … the antisemitism that we’re seeing in our suburbs, in our communities on our streets is somehow equivalent with the treatment of those of Muslim faith” she said.
McKenzie said we are not hearing about Muslim students being harassed on their way to school or Australians wearing a hijab being unable to purchase goods in businesses across Australia.
She accused the government of being weak and scared of the Muslim vote particularly in certain seats that they need to hold in Sydney and Melbourne.
“They seem to think there’s a moral equivalence between Islamophobia and antisemitism [but] there absolutely isn’t. And it needs to be called out” she said.
The Senator warned against Australia following the example of Britain when it comes to claims of policing citizens differently depending on their background.
“We see some Australians being held to account for their behaviour, whilst other Australians aren’t. The fact that the only person arrested at the front of the Opera House was a Jewish man, I think speaks volumes about our police forces reticence to uphold the law, over their desire to keep the peace” she said.
McKenzie wants to see political leaders make it very clear at a state and federal level that they want the law upheld.
“Racial vilification is not okay in this country; it’s never been okay. And nor should it be okay just because you happen to be a Jewish Australian” she said.
The Senator believes all Australians should be proud of the country’s multiculturalism and egalitarianism where people from different ethnic groups and religions have come together.
“I’m very concerned that somehow in recent times, we’re expected to be ashamed of who we are, where we come from, and that our country stands for. Our children need to be taught about how great Australia is to be proud of our country to uphold the Judeo-Christian values that underpin everything that Australia is about” she said.
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