I refer to reports in the Courier Mail today of the protest against a private event convened by the Jewish community at a Brisbane hotel to celebrate the Shavuot holiday.
Following the reports, I reached out to members of the Queensland Jewish community. I heard of the fear and intimidation that was felt by members of the community on Saturday night. I heard of the emotional impact of the protest on those who attended the event.
Since the events of 7 October 2023 and its aftermath, there has been a deeply concerning increase in acts of antisemitism in Queensland. It is in this context that the events of Saturday night are deeply troubling.
Australia is a free country. Freedom of speech is a foundation stone of our democracy. We are all free to exercise our opinions. There are many opportunities to do so, peacefully and legally.
There is no excuse to engage in protest actions which intimidate and instil fear. It is shameful. It is unacceptable. There is no excuse to target a community on the basis of ethnicity, religion, race, country of origin or any other such attribute. It is anathema to our Australian values and way of life.
When any Australian is targeted in this manner, political leaders have an obligation to speak out. There is an obligation to support the community that is the subject of the intimidation. There can be no equivocation. It is a moral obligation.
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