Jana Stewart (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to contribute to this debate on the really important issue of antisemitism. It is a real shame to see it politicised in the way it has been during this question time. When there are so many in our country who are hurting, who are afraid for their lives right now, to see it weaponised by the opposition in this way really tells you something about who they are. Instead of working with us to keep the community safe, they continue to politicise it, and that is a real shame.

The Albanese Labor government has absolutely taken steps to combat the rise of antisemitism across the country. We've seen some really abhorrent things happen in the last little while that have made our Jewish brothers and sisters feel unsafe, and no doubt they are existing in a constant state of worry and anxiety right now. That is really an unacceptable way for anybody in the country we are in today to live. To not have to teach your kids to experience hate and harm because of who they are is a real privilege. It's not one that's been extended to First Nations people, in the same way that it hasn't been extended to Jewish people. It is common for us to have to teach our kids, when they go to school, to experience hate and harm because of who they are, and that is what our Jewish brothers and sisters are having to do right now.

The constant weaponising of this conversation is really unacceptable. We have taken measures that are similar to those of other countries, like Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Japan and Korea. I'd be interested to know if the opposition are also criticising the positions of those countries. It's certainly not helpful to the Australian community, when we are trying so hard to unify people here. One of the things you have seen our government immediately do is inject a bunch of money for social cohesion across the country. To then see leaders in this country try to inflame debate is really entirely unhelpful. What we're trying to do is bring people together, like we saw in this very Senate chamber earlier today. We have seen the Senate chamber come together to condemn antisemitism. That is what we should be doing to help Australians to feel safe.

We have seen a devastating rise of antisemitism across the country and across the world, and that is entirely unacceptable. We have condemned and rejected antisemitism wherever it has occurred. It has absolutely no place in this country. We stand in this country for values such as acceptance and inclusion. We should always advocate for them, just like we on this side have always done. We should be encouraging a tone of conversation that allows people to come together and have empathy and care for our fellow Australians and not try to inflame the debate and bring it to our front doors. That is the experience of so many of our Jewish brothers and sisters right now.

We have seen it politicised by those opposite. I want to encourage us, while the hurt and trauma is real and alive right now for so many people, to be really careful and considered about the language we use in this place, because it matters, especially while people are traumatised. The language that is used in this place can retrigger.