Albo bows to media, Israel pressure, moves on antisemitism, free speech

Anthony Albanese bowed to intense media pressure and announced that the government “has adopted and fully supports Jillian Segal’s plan to combat antisemitism.” Stephanie Tran And Kim Wingerei report.

It will become difficult to criticize the state of Israel.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the Prime Minister said: “We have already legislated to outlaw hate speech, hate crimes, hate symbols and personal information,” he said, adding that the government would implement all 13 recommendations “in consultation with the Jewish community and the ambassador.” His words suggest an escape with some leeway.

The 13 recommendations he cites are taken from Antisemitism Ambassador Jillian Segal’s report presented in July of this year; this includes the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s controversial definition of antisemitism: “IHRA definition.”

I never intended to “chill the conversation”

The government’s official response confirmed the IHRA definition as Australia’s official definition by issuing new “additional guidance” prepared by the Special Envoy to assist with its application in the Australian context. Until this is published it is unclear what this will mean in practice.

First adopted The definition made by Australia in 2021 under the Morrison government includes 11 illustrative examples, most of which relate to criticism of the State of Israel.

Kenneth Stern, the lead drafter of the IHRA definition, warned against its use as a disciplinary tool. Stern repeatedly in question The definition was never intended to “target or chill speech.”

“Starting in 2010, right-wing Jewish groups adopted the ‘working definition,’ which included some Israel-related examples, and decided to weaponize it with Title VI lawsuits,” Stern wrote. Guardian’s column.

in 2021 Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism It was supported by hundreds of Jewish scholars in response to what they described as the “vague” and “controversial” framework of the IHRA definition. The preamble to the declaration states:

“The IHRA Definition contains 11 ‘instances’ of antisemitism, 7 of which focus on the State of Israel. While this places undue emphasis on one area, there is a widely felt need for clarity regarding the limits of legitimate political speech and action regarding Zionism, Israel and Palestine.”

Theft verdict

Recently in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court decisionA judge rejected police attempts to treat chanting anti-Zionist slogans as a strict liability offence, ruling that prosecutors must prove intent to insult or offend.

The court ruled that for political speech to constitute a crime, it must go beyond mere disagreement and be “contrary to contemporary standards of public order.”

Outside the court, Hash Teyeh hailed the ruling as “a great victory for freedom of political expression.”

Antisemitism was produced. Universities relied on fabricated figures

New immigration powers

The government’s response also includes expanding immigration powers; the government is “cooperating with the Special Envoy on Antisemitism to improve the training of immigration officials.”

Home Secretary Tony Burke in question“We will change the law to make it easier to cancel visas and refuse visas… I have refused and canceled visas on the grounds of anti-Semitism, as few others before me have done. I cannot give up on that.”

And I made clear the balance between bigotry and freedom of expression.

Antisemitism Education Working Group

In response to Segal’s recommendation to “promote long-term community resilience by providing understanding and familiarity with the nature, history and danger of antisemitism in Australian society”, the Government will establish the “Antisemitism Education Taskforce (Taskforce)”, chaired by David Gonski AC, a constant source of reference for inspiring plans.

The aims are to cover all levels of education, from kindergarten to university, in a concerted effort to provide “a deep understanding of the history and culture of Australian Jews and a mature understanding and expression of Australian values”.

The plan doesn’t address what those values ​​are, but there is the odd cursory reference to tackling racism generally, including funding an SBS podcast “to counter misinformation and disinformation affecting Australia’s social cohesion”.

Security, law enforcement and coordination

A new AFP task force will be established “to investigate threats, violence and hatred towards the Australian Jewish community and parliamentarians”.

The government has also committed $159.5 million in security funding to the Executive Council of Australian Jews and other community groups “to improve safety and security in Jewish community locations, including synagogues, and to protect Jewish students in schools and higher education.”

Unaccepted suggestions

Some of the more controversial recommendations in Segal’s original report were not included in the government’s official response, although they were not explicitly rejected.

These include allowing cuts to public funding for cultural institutions or festivals deemed to be failing to combat antisemitism, or removing charity tax status for “problem organisations”.

See below for a detailed analysis of what is and is not included. Only 31% of the original recommendations will be implemented “as is.”