Antisemitism: Jewish groups back Jillian Segal report, while critics warn of curbs on free speech
Barrister Greg Barns, SC, spokesman for the Australian Lawyers Alliance, said the recommendations represented a threat to freedom of speech and the right to protest and could result in draconian penalties. He pointed out Australia has international human rights obligations to free speech and freedom of expression.
'The temptation will be for universities, cultural institutions and others, including NGOs, to suppress alternative views in relation to Israel,' Barns said.
He said one call for new laws around hate speech was 'bizarre and dangerous' given substantial reforms earlier this year.
'To be calling for further laws only six months after major legislative change is just bizarre.'
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Barns also said it could set precedents for future governments to impose the same rules on other groups, such as environmentalists, to suppress opposition.
'Overall there's a chilling aspect to the envoy's recommendations and that is to essentially adopt a Trumpian tool of cajoling and threatening in order to curtail fundamental human rights.'
Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion, KC, said the plan fully aligned with his organisation's thoughts.
'Its release could not be more timely given the recent appalling events in Melbourne. The actions which the plan calls for are now urgently needed,' Aghion said.
'We call upon all sectors of society, including government, law enforcement, the media, the university sector, education authorities and online platform providers, to co-operate with the Special Envoy and the Jewish community to give this action plan full force and effect.'
Dr Max Kaiser, executive officer of the pro-Palestinian Jewish Council of Australia, said antisemitism was real and must be taken seriously, but Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism, and other forms of hate, could not be ignored.
'This document reads more like a blueprint for silencing dissent rather than a strategy to build inclusion.'
The report also calls on institutions to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism. The definition has been embraced by many Jewish groups and was adopted by Australia under then prime minister Scott Morrison, but critics argue it stifles free speech and conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism.
It reads: 'Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.'
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Kaiser said the report's language, coupled with this definition, made the recommendations 'dangerously unclear'.
A spokesperson for Free Palestine Melbourne, one of the groups behind the regular Sunday rallies in Melbourne's CBD, said this definition of antisemitism had been criticised by 'legal scholars, human rights organisations, and even its original drafters for being vague and politically loaded'.
'We find it incredible that Jillian Segal should be demanding that all public institutions be forced to adopt a definition of antisemitism that mendaciously defines criticism of Israel as a form of antisemitism,' the spokesperson said.
'Enshrining this definition in policy would not protect Jewish Australians – it would shield a foreign government from legitimate scrutiny, and punish those who challenge it.
'We call upon the Albanese government to reflect upon its duty towards the Australian people and uphold the independence and integrity of their educational, journalistic and cultural institutions.'
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University of NSW honorary associate professor Peter Slezak, who is Jewish and regularly speaks at pro-Palestine protests, said the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's proposed definition should be rejected for conflating what he said was justified criticism of Israel with antisemitism.
'The envoy doesn't even mention any of the reasons you might be angry about Israel. To be angry at [Israel] is not antisemitic.'
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Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke defended his decision to deny a visa to far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, who was set to undertake a speaking tour of Australia at the invitation of a fringe Jewish group. The Israeli government retaliated by cancelling the visas of three Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority and ordering embassy staff to apply extra scrutiny to Australian applications to enter Israel. But the diplomatic spat erupted on Tuesday night when Mr Netanyahu called his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese a "weak politician" in a social media post. Mr Burke said the increasingly "isolated" Israeli prime minister was lashing out, like he had done to other Western leaders who in recent weeks had vowed to recognise Palestinian statehood. "Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry. Strength is much better measured by exactly what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has done," he told ABC Radio National on Wednesday. "When there's a decision that we know Israel won't like, he goes straight to Benjamin Netanyahu, he has the conversation, he says exactly what we're intending to do, and has the chance for the objections to be made person-to-person." In revoking the visas of the Australian diplomats, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar cited Australia's decision to recognise Palestine, as well as the refusal to grant visas to Mr Rothman and former Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked. Mr Burke said he had a responsibility to not "hold out a welcome mat" to people with extreme views. "One of them has described Palestinian children as the enemy, and the other has described Palestinian children as little snakes - as little snakes," he said. "Now, if anyone wanted to come on a public speaking tour and they had those views publicly expressed about Israeli children, I would block the visa, and I'm going to not have a lower bar for the protection of views that are bigoted views against the Palestinian people." Opposition home affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie said he didn't agree with Mr Rothman's views but the decision to refuse his visa had further damaged Australia's relationship with Israel. "The important thing to note is that the relationship with Israel now is at an all-time low, and that's largely because of the Albanese foreign policy incompetence from this government," he told ABC Radio National. Mr Burke had been "inconsistent" in his application of standards to visa approvals, Mr Hastie added. British commentator Sami Hamdi was allowed to enter Australia for a speaking tour in 2024, despite earlier comments celebrating Hamas' October 7 attacks, he said. But Mr Burke pointed to decisions to block people who had expressed anti-Semitic views, such as Kanye West, from entering the country. "It seems that the coalition only believe I should be rejecting people if they will cause harm to the Jewish community," he said. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said it was unacceptable for Mr Netanyahu to publicly insult a fellow world leader, but Mr Burke's comments were also out of line. "... Both parties are acting contrary to the interest of the people they're seeking to represent and serve ... They need to find a new course and a new way of dealing with each other and doing business, because this is entirely counterproductive," he told Sky News. The Australian government has returned serve after a remarkable sledge by Israel's prime minister, with a senior minister calling out Benjamin Netanyahu for "blowing up" Palestinians and starving children. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke defended his decision to deny a visa to far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, who was set to undertake a speaking tour of Australia at the invitation of a fringe Jewish group. The Israeli government retaliated by cancelling the visas of three Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority and ordering embassy staff to apply extra scrutiny to Australian applications to enter Israel. But the diplomatic spat erupted on Tuesday night when Mr Netanyahu called his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese a "weak politician" in a social media post. Mr Burke said the increasingly "isolated" Israeli prime minister was lashing out, like he had done to other Western leaders who in recent weeks had vowed to recognise Palestinian statehood. "Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry. Strength is much better measured by exactly what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has done," he told ABC Radio National on Wednesday. "When there's a decision that we know Israel won't like, he goes straight to Benjamin Netanyahu, he has the conversation, he says exactly what we're intending to do, and has the chance for the objections to be made person-to-person." In revoking the visas of the Australian diplomats, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar cited Australia's decision to recognise Palestine, as well as the refusal to grant visas to Mr Rothman and former Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked. Mr Burke said he had a responsibility to not "hold out a welcome mat" to people with extreme views. "One of them has described Palestinian children as the enemy, and the other has described Palestinian children as little snakes - as little snakes," he said. "Now, if anyone wanted to come on a public speaking tour and they had those views publicly expressed about Israeli children, I would block the visa, and I'm going to not have a lower bar for the protection of views that are bigoted views against the Palestinian people." Opposition home affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie said he didn't agree with Mr Rothman's views but the decision to refuse his visa had further damaged Australia's relationship with Israel. "The important thing to note is that the relationship with Israel now is at an all-time low, and that's largely because of the Albanese foreign policy incompetence from this government," he told ABC Radio National. Mr Burke had been "inconsistent" in his application of standards to visa approvals, Mr Hastie added. British commentator Sami Hamdi was allowed to enter Australia for a speaking tour in 2024, despite earlier comments celebrating Hamas' October 7 attacks, he said. But Mr Burke pointed to decisions to block people who had expressed anti-Semitic views, such as Kanye West, from entering the country. "It seems that the coalition only believe I should be rejecting people if they will cause harm to the Jewish community," he said. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said it was unacceptable for Mr Netanyahu to publicly insult a fellow world leader, but Mr Burke's comments were also out of line. "... Both parties are acting contrary to the interest of the people they're seeking to represent and serve ... They need to find a new course and a new way of dealing with each other and doing business, because this is entirely counterproductive," he told Sky News. The Australian government has returned serve after a remarkable sledge by Israel's prime minister, with a senior minister calling out Benjamin Netanyahu for "blowing up" Palestinians and starving children. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke defended his decision to deny a visa to far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, who was set to undertake a speaking tour of Australia at the invitation of a fringe Jewish group. The Israeli government retaliated by cancelling the visas of three Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority and ordering embassy staff to apply extra scrutiny to Australian applications to enter Israel. But the diplomatic spat erupted on Tuesday night when Mr Netanyahu called his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese a "weak politician" in a social media post. Mr Burke said the increasingly "isolated" Israeli prime minister was lashing out, like he had done to other Western leaders who in recent weeks had vowed to recognise Palestinian statehood. "Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many children you can leave hungry. Strength is much better measured by exactly what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has done," he told ABC Radio National on Wednesday. "When there's a decision that we know Israel won't like, he goes straight to Benjamin Netanyahu, he has the conversation, he says exactly what we're intending to do, and has the chance for the objections to be made person-to-person." In revoking the visas of the Australian diplomats, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar cited Australia's decision to recognise Palestine, as well as the refusal to grant visas to Mr Rothman and former Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked. Mr Burke said he had a responsibility to not "hold out a welcome mat" to people with extreme views. "One of them has described Palestinian children as the enemy, and the other has described Palestinian children as little snakes - as little snakes," he said. "Now, if anyone wanted to come on a public speaking tour and they had those views publicly expressed about Israeli children, I would block the visa, and I'm going to not have a lower bar for the protection of views that are bigoted views against the Palestinian people." Opposition home affairs spokesman Andrew Hastie said he didn't agree with Mr Rothman's views but the decision to refuse his visa had further damaged Australia's relationship with Israel. "The important thing to note is that the relationship with Israel now is at an all-time low, and that's largely because of the Albanese foreign policy incompetence from this government," he told ABC Radio National. Mr Burke had been "inconsistent" in his application of standards to visa approvals, Mr Hastie added. British commentator Sami Hamdi was allowed to enter Australia for a speaking tour in 2024, despite earlier comments celebrating Hamas' October 7 attacks, he said. But Mr Burke pointed to decisions to block people who had expressed anti-Semitic views, such as Kanye West, from entering the country. "It seems that the coalition only believe I should be rejecting people if they will cause harm to the Jewish community," he said. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said it was unacceptable for Mr Netanyahu to publicly insult a fellow world leader, but Mr Burke's comments were also out of line. "... Both parties are acting contrary to the interest of the people they're seeking to represent and serve ... They need to find a new course and a new way of dealing with each other and doing business, because this is entirely counterproductive," he told Sky News.
