The opposition has welcomed a special envoys antisemitism plan. And Paul Scarr is the Shadow Minister for Immigration, Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs. And he joins us of a Monday Morning, and this morning is no exception. G’day, Paul.
Senator Scarr
Good Morning. Rod, and it’s a beautiful day here in Brisbane.
Rod Henshaw
I don’t want to hear this. I’ll tell you when I was up there a week ago. I was up there a week ago, got there on the Thursday, would have been Thursday a week ago. And I went out to my daughter’s place out the north side, and we sat out in the veranda. It was freezing. It was cold. You had a cold snap up there.
Senator Scarr
Yeah, it’s, it’s not as bad as it was, but it’s a beautiful one of those beautiful blue light days you get in Brisbane during winter.
Rod Henshaw
I know I remember them. I remember them with great fondness. But look, you know, if we didn’t have, if we didn’t have a freezing winter and a bloody hot summer, we’d have nothing to talk about in Canberra. Come on, give us a break.
Senator Scarr
Oh, absolutely right. And 22 July, I’ll be back there with you in Canberra!
Rod Henshaw
Okay, I’ll bring you a bottle of rum. Keep you warm.
Senator Scarr
Thanks.
Rod Henshaw
Okay, getting down to business, you’ve welcomed the special envoys plan to combat antisemitism, but you’re not quite happy with it, especially the government’s apparent lack of leadership on what’s been a significant national issue since October 2023, and I must say, Paul last week, I did make the point that this is all well and good, but it’s two years too late, almost two years anyway.
Senator Scarr
Well, absolutely. Rod and I think the day after the 7 October catastrophe in Israel, the terrorist attacks in Israel, the attacks by Hamas, we saw those very, very disturbing demonstrations in front of the Sydney Opera House, and that’s the time when action was really required. So this plan is very welcome, but as you say, there’s quite a legitimate criticism to be made about the timing.
Rod Henshaw
I haven’t gone through the entire detail of it, Paul, I must admit, but what are some of the sticking points that that you’re not altogether happy with
Senator Scarr
Rod, I think it’s, I think it’s mainly an issue from our perspective of making sure the government implements the recommendation. So we’re actually quite happy with the detail of the plan, but it’s a question of making sure that the government actually takes appropriate action to implement the plan, and that’s where we think we’ve got a key role as an opposition to hold the government accountable to the implementation of the plan. And just to give you one example, in relation to the university sector, there have been terrible issues in our university sector, with the growth of antisemitism on our campuses, the implementation plan calls for a report card to be prepared in relation to the progress the universities are making to address those issues. And if appropriate progress is not made by the beginning of the academic year in 2026 then the plan is calling for the establishment of the judicial inquiry to look at antisemitism on our university campuses. So that’s a prime example of where we’ll be looking at the government to see if it’s actually introducing the recommendations and following the work plan.
Rod Henshaw
Yeah, I’m not dated for my patience, I must admit. But I think if I was in the opposition’s situation at the moment, or position at the moment, I’d be getting very impatient and say, look, you’ve stuffed around with this for two years. You got nowhere. Antisemitism has been running rampant since, since that time, since October 2023, come on. You know, do something now. Don’t wait for two years. Three years. Have judicial inquiries, all this crap, get into it.
Senator Scarr
Well, there are other recommendations as well that can be implemented tomorrow and should have been implemented two years ago. So in terms of enforcing the laws that are actually on the books, and this is, this has been one of the frustrations, which we’ve raised as an Opposition since 8 October, and that is, there are laws on the statute books that could be enforced today for people who step outside the bounds of what is acceptable lawful conduct. And yet, we’ve seen this hesitancy on the part of of governments to actually implement the law that’s on the books. And I think that has been the cause for a great concern.
Rod Henshaw
Well, not only a cause for great concern, but a cause to give rise to more acts of antisemitism because of the lack of action.
Senator Scarr
Well, exactly. And it was heartbreaking last week, rod to visit the East Melbourne Synagogue and speak to members of the congregation, including parents, who are telling us what it’s like to drop their children off to school when there’s armed guards at the gates who tell us what it’s like to have their children go through drills, not just fire drills, but lockdown drills, to prepare them for a violent offender being on their campus, and to hear the economic cost which is being imposed upon these communities in terms of security levies and charges. No Australian should have to face thos issues.
Rod Henshaw
You’re right. You’re spot on, Paul, because, I mean, you mentioned universities before. There was a case in Sydney, I think might have been the University of New South Wales or Sydney. I’m not sure. I better not blame any in case I get the wrong one. But the fact was, a lot of these Jewish students were scared to go to class. They were scared to go to lectures.
Senator Scarr
Rod, I participated in the Senate inquiry in relation to Julian Lesser’s private members bill to set up a judicial inquiry into antisemitism on university campuses. We received hundreds of submissions, hundreds of submissions. Most of the submissions were either anonymous or name withheld because Jewish students and their families are in fear. And some of those submissions were absolutely heartbreaking. Children waking up in the morning sobbing in tears with their parents saying they did not want to go to our university campuses. So we must make sure every single Australian, regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, every single Australian, has a right to go to our university campuses in safety, without harassment and without vilification. So this is an urgent issue. Jillian Segal calls it a national crisis, and when you look at the acts of antisemitism which are occurring in our community. It is a national crisis, and strong action is required. Not just words, action.
Rod Henshaw
You are spot on again. But I think you know, as a side story to this, Paul, I think a thought must be spared for those Palestinians living in Australia who are lovely, law abiding citizens. They came here to to a better life, and they they avail themselves of everything that Australia, this wonderful country, has to offer. And they’re the they’re the meat in the sandwich here, it’s the second time I’ve used that phrase this morning. The other one was slightly a little bit on the strange side. But anyway, getting back to the track, these people are law abiding, and it’s only a mob of radicals who are actually sporting it, and the Pro Palestinian radicals I’m talking about that, you know, they they’re demanding this, demanding that, and they are anti Jewish.
Senator Scarr
I received submissions from from good Australians, law abiding Australians, who are deeply concerned about the issues which are occurring in Gaza. And I acknowledge those submissions, and there’s a depth of feelin. What we’re talking about is that minority of extremists who are going beyond the guardrails of what is acceptable in our multicultural country. So you are right, absolutely right, to emphasize that point.
Rod Henshaw
Okay, so where does it go from here? I noticed that I think Sussan Ley got it right when she said the report confirmed what Jewish Australians have been telling us for months, that antisemitism has surged to crisis levels, while the Prime Minister has refused to show national leadership. But on the first on the first instance, obviously, the report that was released last week, that does back that up. Yes, it’s a crisis point that Jillian mentioned, but it has been going on. It just needs to show some national leadership that’s lacking badly.
Senator Scarr
Oh, absolutely, absolutely, Rod. We need that national leadership, and we need that leadership at all levels, across all states. We need to come together as a country, and we need to defend our Australian values. And key to those Australian values is the right of every Australian to live peacefully, without fear and in safety. And this antisemitism at the moment, it’s not just an attack on the Jewish community, it’s an attack on our foundational values. So we need to see action.
Rod Henshaw
Good on Paul. You’ll be back with Stephen next week. It’s been a pleasure talking to you this morning.
Senator Scarr
Thanks, Rod.
Rod Henshaw
By the way, I won’t say it, but, you know, keep warm.
Senator Scarr
It’s easier up here than down there, mate.
Rod Henshaw
Paul Scarr, Shadow Minister for Immigration, Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.
