The Jewish Council is concerned by a number of the proposed measures in the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill that will be tabled this Monday, and urges the Government to undertake extensive consultation before moving forward. Lack of real consultation risks a bill that is both harmful to human rights and ineffective against the racism it claims to target.
Approaches which centre on criminalisation and migration powers cannot meaningfully address racism and antisemitism as they treat racism as an individual pathology to be punished rather than a systemic problem that must be prevented through education, leadership, accountability and sustained community investment.
The Council warns that the Bill is a mess of legal inconsistencies. While some sections target religious instruction, the new vilification offences exclude religion, sexuality, and gender. This may mean that Islamophobia and other forms of vilification may not be covered by some of the proposed measures, including some forms of antisemitism.
Dr Max Kaiser, Executive Officer, Jewish Council of Australia:
“As a Jewish organisation, we take antisemitism extremely seriously. But rushing through sweeping criminal laws is not going to make Jews safer. Racism is not defeated by expanding police or migration powers or weakening safeguards on free expression. It is defeated by addressing root causes, investing in prevention, and building trust and solidarity across communities.”
“The important elements of this bill enabling a federal gun buyback and tougher controls on firearm imports should be progressed without delay as a meaningful, evidence-based action that removes the physical tools of violence from our streets.”
“If the Government is serious about tackling antisemitism and racism, it should slow down and commit to an evidence-based, whole-of-society approach — including fully funding the Australian Human Rights Commission’s National Anti-Racism Framework.”
To arrange an interview or for further comment, email [email protected] or SMS 0493 970 412.