Ward slams Fazio

Deputy NSW Liberal leader Natalie Ward has called on senior Labor Party official Amanda Fazio to “apologise, withdraw and resign now” after the latter called Jewish people “a race of whingers” in a Facbook post.

The comment was made in the context of sharing an article about criticism of the actor Bradley Cooper wearing a prosthetic nose in the film Maestro, about the life of Leonard Bernstein.

The NSW Labor Israel Action Committee (LIAC) has formally requested that Fazio be expelled from the party.

Echoing that stance from across the political aisle, Ward – a former chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel – called on Fazio to fall on her own sword first. “Those comments from former member Amanda Fazio are blatantly prejudiced, bigoted and should not be tolerated,” she said.

“Ms Fazio’s comments have been rightly condemned by Jewish community organisations.

“I echo the comments of David Ossip, president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, who stated, ‘These bigoted comments are nothing short of despicable and seek to silence the Jewish community by making it seem as though there is something untoward, problematic or unusual about Jews engaging in public debate.'”

She noted that Fazio is a member of NSW Labor’s Rules committee, which among other things oversees the party’s Code of Conduct. “The code is prefaced by its principles and purpose that ‘All people are entitled to respect, equality, dignity and the opportunity to participate in society free of harassment,'” Ward said.

“Under section 5.1.8, the code goes on to list situations that breach the code, one of those being when someone ‘behaves in a manner that constitutes discrimination … which includes discrimination or harassment towards a group of persons on the basis of race’.” Ward said Fazio’s comments are a blatant breach of that Code of Conduct.

“Her comments are antisemitic and should not be tolerated in modern-day Australia.

“I condemn them and I stand for our harmonious multicultural and multi-faith community in NSW.”

Calling on NSW Labor “to condemn and expel that bigoted person”, Ward said, “She should do better. As a former member and president of this place, she should apologise, withdraw and resign now.”

Ward also moved a motion for the House to condemn Fazio and for the Labor Party to expel her.