Senate antisemitism non-motion

The B'nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) is disappointed in the amendments to the antisemitism motion which had been put on notice on 11 September 2006 in the Senate.

The original motion stated that the Senate:

(a) notes, with deep concern, the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia and the growing threat which this poses to the cohesion of Australian society;

(b) condemns all manifestations of anti-Semitism wherever they occur; and

(c) expresses its unequivocal condemnation of all forms of racial and ethnic hatred, persecution and discrimination.

Instead, the motion that was passed stated:

(a) Notes with deep concern the existence of religious intolerance and racial discrimination in Australia and the threat which this poses to the cohesion of Australian society;

(b) Condemns all manifestations of racism wherever they occur; and

(c) Expresses its unequivocal condemnation of all forms of racial and ethnic hatred, persecution and discrimination.

The need for the antisemitism motion was raised in recent meetings between the ADC’s executive officer, Mr Manny Waks, and the ADC's Public Affairs Committee chairman, Associate Professor Douglas Kirsner, and federal parliamentarians. Senators were informed of the disturbing increase in the level of antisemitism throughout Australia and offered to propose a motion in the Senate condemning antisemitism.

"The ADC is disappointed with the outcome of this motion. Its whole point was to condemn specifically antisemitism due to the disturbing increase in incidents in recent months. Making a “motherhood” statement condemning all forms of racism achieves little. The Jewish community has come under greater attack in recent months and it was hoped that our political leaders would react appropriately a disappointed Mr Waks commented.

The amendment of the motion was instigated by a political stunt by Senator Andrew Bartlett of the Democrats. When the wording of the original motion was given notice in the Senate, Senator Bartlett devised a copy-cat motion preserving the original wording except for substituting “Islamophobia” for “antisemitism.”

“The ADC would have no problem with a motion condemning anti-Islamic sentiments but the timing of Senator Bartlett’s proposal is dubious. If he sincerely feels that Islamophobia should be addressed in the Senate why has he not proposed a motion earlier?” Mr Waks asked.

“The antisemitism motion was proposed due to the disturbing record breaking number of antisemitic incidents in recent months. The ADC therefore welcomed the proposal for the motion by Senators Ursula Stephens and Brett Mason to publicly condemn antisemitism at this point. For Senator Bartlett to cynically try to score political points rather than taking these issues seriously is inappropriate and irresponsible" Mr Waks added.