‘Heavy-handed': Former minister breaks ranks on antisemitism report
Former industry and science minister Ed Husic, who was moved to the backbench following a post-election cabinet reshuffle, said the report made 'some really important' points, but was concerned with certain sections and some of Segal's commentary.
'With the greatest respect to the special envoy, I wasn't entirely comfortable that she just singles out public broadcasting for attention,' Husic told ABC's RN Breakfast on Wednesday. 'There's a role to play across media on these issues, and I didn't necessarily think it was justified to point out the public broadcaster.'
Last week, Segal said reporting by the ABC on the war in Gaza was an example of 'manipulated narratives' that could lead to antisemitism.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke both endorsed Segal's report when she launched it last week, though neither committed to implementing specific recommendations, and mainstream Jewish groups backed it as a vital blueprint to tackle antisemitism.
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Husic, a Muslim, has previously broken ranks with the government over Israel and is the first Labor MP to criticise Segal's report. He said the government should be careful about rushing to adopt her recommendations. 'Let's take the time to think it through,' he said. 'A lot of thought's been put into it.'
There has been rising antisemitism in Australia, including arson attacks and racist graffiti on Jewish buildings, since Hamas' massacres in Israel on October 7, 2023 and Israel's subsequent war in Gaza. The government appointed Segal as the antisemitism envoy a year ago to find the causes of the issue and suggest solutions.
In a wide-ranging report delivered last week, Segal concluded that antisemitism was spreading in Australia and took particular aim at the cultural and educational sectors.
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Opposition education spokesman Jonathon Duniam said the coalition would support the changes. "We do need transparency around this. When you're putting your child into the care and trust of people you generally don't know, and you're away for the day, you want to know if there are issues with the centre you're putting your kid into," he told ABC's Insiders program. "We again extend our support to the government to urge state and territory governments to come together and act with urgency to resolve all of the problems we have across the sector." Senator Duniam said he was "baffled" that mandatory security cameras were not in place in childcare centres. "Obviously we need to protect privacy of children, we need to manage those systems," he said. "But with the right safeguards and right management, I think it is essential as part of the protection against kids in this most vulnerable setting."
