Let's get rid of this embarrassing King's birthday holiday
Polar winds, rain and snow aside, most of Australia is going to appreciate today's public holiday and give little thought to the reason behind it. I'm going to ruin that a bit by stating categorically that it is a ridiculous and embarrassing holiday.
While the US is approaching 250 years of independence, Australia still pauses to celebrate the birthday of a British king, flouncing around in ceremonial garb like the petulant George III in the Broadway hit Hamilton. Only he's not singing 'You'll be back' because we never really left!
For a long time, supporters of an Australian republic spoke with dewy eyes of the day King Charles would finally supersede his mother – convinced that the very sight of the perpetual English prince as king would kick-start the movement once more, and propel Australia relentlessly away from its British colonial past. That has not occurred.
That was another time and place – when there was less to distract us from reality, and more vigorous debate about Australia's history, values, and future. Nowadays, any reference to national debate is condemned as elite tut-tutting.
On Australia Day this year, journalist David Penberthy condemned those who questioned the appropriateness of the date as 'haranguing' the vast majority who just want to 'sit around and have a couple of quiet ones'. He might be right, but what a half-hearted democracy that is: greedily grasping the freedom to celebrate – watching the footy or 'burning a few snags with mates' – without ever turning our minds to how that celebration is generated.
How do we explain to the millions of migrants who come to call Australia home – the backbone of our nation – why it is so culturally important to celebrate a public holiday with mates and beers and snags, and so culturally inappropriate to enquire about the origin of the holiday?
Because, like it or not, today's sleep-in comes courtesy of agreeing to keep an indulged English prince (as he was for 73 years) as your King. The position may be symbolic, ceremonial and relatively powerless. But however you spin it, he is our King, and he is the Australian head of state because of the privileges and status bestowed on him by his people.
Endorsing an unelected, hereditary figurehead clashes with how most Australians want to portray themselves; most importantly, it clashes with the quintessentially Australian idea that everyone is entitled to a fair go – our abbreviated and informal version of the US's 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'.
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Sky News AU
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- Sky News AU
Majority of Australians back boost to defence spending amid US pressure and security concerns
The majority of voters support lifting Australia's military budget, as former PM Scott Morrison and US officials push for a sharp increase in defence investment ahead of Anthony Albanese's expected meeting with Donald Trump. The majority of Australians support an increase to the nation's military budget, amid demands from the United States for allies to lift defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP. According to new analysis from News Corp's Lighthouse Consumer Sentiment Tracker, 57 per cent of voters said military spending should increase beyond its current level. Eight per cent of people supported spending cuts and 35 per cent believed the status quo was sufficient. The majority of respondents (39 per cent) also indicated a willingness to fund increased defence spending through higher taxes on high income earns and corporations. Thirty-seven per cent were willing to fund spending through efficiency savings within government departments and 28 per cent through cuts to foreign aid or partnerships. The data was based on a representative sample of nearly 5,000 respondents collected between April 1 and May 31. The survey comes as pressure mounts from the United States for Australia to spend at least 3 per cent of GDP on defence. The Albanese government has currently invested about 2 per cent of GDP, rising to 2.3 per cent by 2033. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth recently called on Australia to lift defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP. The appeal was made during a public meeting alongside Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not ruled out further spending, but maintains additional investment must be aligned with specific needs—not 'arbitrary targets'. However, Defence Chief Admiral David Johnston told a defence summit on Wednesday that his department would likely ask for a funding boost in the next biennial review. 'The opportunity we have with the biennial cycle now is to keep coming back and reviewing the strategy,' he said. 'Looking at the opportunities or where the investments are required, putting the case to government to increase the defence expenditure where we believe it is needed.' Admiral Johnston also expressed concern about the possibility of Australia waging war in the future on home soil, rather than overseas. However, inside the government there has been a belief that they do not expect a direct military invasion of Australia by China. Rather, insiders view strategic assets like submarines and long-range missiles as tools to protect critical trade routes, not to repel a land invasion. — ASPI (@ASPI_org) May 28, 2025 The defence issue is set to feature prominently at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada between June 15 and 17, where Mr Albanese is expected to meet President Trump. Former prime minister Scott Morrison has added his voice to calls for more robust military investment, reiterating the Coalition's support for a 3 per cent of GDP target. 'I'm on the record for some time now of supporting a 3 per cent target and that target obviously has to be filled out with the right capabilities,' Mr Morrison said. 'This is a common requirement that has been put forward across all Allies and partners, not just Australia. 'The significant change we're seeing in the security environment necessitates such a response.' The independent defence and strategic policy think tank, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, recently called on the Albanese government to spend more. ASPI Executive Director Justin Bassi told Sky News that the public deserves transparency on the country's strategic vulnerabilities. 'Unfortunately, the world has these threats that do impact Australia and to counter these threats we need to, unfortunately, spend more money in the area,' he said. Mr Albanese publicly dismissed the think tank's recent report warning of a 'hollow' Australian Defence Force, calling ASPI's criticisms 'predictable'. The Lighthouse Tracker data also revealed strong generational and political divides. Seventy per cent of baby boomers support more defence spending, compared with 49 per cent of millennials and 47 per cent of Gen Z. Coalition and One Nation voters were most supportive (69 per cent), while only 40 per cent of Greens voters backed increased funding. Labor voters were more evenly split, with 52 per cent in favour. Among potential funding sources, Coalition voters preferred cuts to climate programs (38 per cent), foreign aid (36 per cent), and the arts (30 per cent). Labor and Greens voters favoured progressive tax reform, with 45 per cent calling for higher taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations. Only 4 per cent of respondents were willing to consider diverting funds from Medicare, or 10 per cent from cuts to welfare or the NDIS.
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
The people behind the Aussie good life
Despite their seeming ubiquity in Australian life, elections don't just happen. Turning up on election day, having your name crossed off the roll and repairing to a booth to exercise your democratic right ahead of nabbing a democracy sausage comes about as the result of an elaborate process overseen by the Australian Election Commission. And despite Australia's compulsory voting, our system is the subject of much envy the world over. And there's none more deserving of one of a King's Birthday honour this year than former Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers, who has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to public administration and leadership and administration of Australia's democratic electoral system. As commissioner for a decade, Mr Rogers led the agency to successfully deliver the 2016, 2019 and 2022 federal elections, numerous by-elections and boundary redistributions in every Australian state and territory. He also led the AEC in 2023 to deliver the Indigenous Voice referendum, the first referendum held in Australia in nearly a quarter of a century. Most Australians are blissfully unaware that much of the system we take for granted comes down to a dedicated team of distinguished public servants, but this fact, in and of itself, is one to emulate. "Running the election, it is Australia's largest peacetime logistic operation," Mr Rogers said last week. "If you think about it, 105,000 workers, 8000 polling places, it's like setting up a Fortune 500 company in five weeks and then disassembling it a couple of weeks after the event." And with talk of stolen elections in the United States and elsewhere, Mr Rogers didn't mind that Australians just expected their electoral system to work. "We used to have this thing called the 'Electoral Commission's dilemma' - which was the easier we make it look, the easier people think it is," he said. "I've had different comments over the years, from people I know pretty well, along the lines of 'You're so lucky, sweet job, it must be nice to work every three years, then it's pina coladas and away you go' and maybe that's okay. "Australians love their electoral system, they trust the AEC greatly, and maybe that's a good thing, that it's seen as unremarkable." And that's the thing about the King's Birthday honours - they're a chance to shine a light on the things that make our ordinary and everyday lives easy, or straightforward, or successful. Mr Rogers is in distinguished company this year, with the likes of broadcaster Phillip Adams, who was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for his services to the media, the arts, cultural leadership and the community, alongside husband-and-wife creative powerhouse Baz Lurhmann and Catherine Martin, for eminent service to the arts. Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been appointed AC, routine postnominals for former holders of the nation's top office, but an honour that will not pass without some criticism. Former model and television host Deborah Hutton, who had two skin cancers removed from her face and advocated for sun safety, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to community health and to media. There are many extraordinary people living throughout our communities, and the King's Birthday is an opportunity to reflect on how lucky we are to live in such a diverse country. Much like elections, a rich and varied life doesn't happen automatically, or without effort. Despite their seeming ubiquity in Australian life, elections don't just happen. Turning up on election day, having your name crossed off the roll and repairing to a booth to exercise your democratic right ahead of nabbing a democracy sausage comes about as the result of an elaborate process overseen by the Australian Election Commission. And despite Australia's compulsory voting, our system is the subject of much envy the world over. And there's none more deserving of one of a King's Birthday honour this year than former Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers, who has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to public administration and leadership and administration of Australia's democratic electoral system. As commissioner for a decade, Mr Rogers led the agency to successfully deliver the 2016, 2019 and 2022 federal elections, numerous by-elections and boundary redistributions in every Australian state and territory. He also led the AEC in 2023 to deliver the Indigenous Voice referendum, the first referendum held in Australia in nearly a quarter of a century. Most Australians are blissfully unaware that much of the system we take for granted comes down to a dedicated team of distinguished public servants, but this fact, in and of itself, is one to emulate. "Running the election, it is Australia's largest peacetime logistic operation," Mr Rogers said last week. "If you think about it, 105,000 workers, 8000 polling places, it's like setting up a Fortune 500 company in five weeks and then disassembling it a couple of weeks after the event." And with talk of stolen elections in the United States and elsewhere, Mr Rogers didn't mind that Australians just expected their electoral system to work. "We used to have this thing called the 'Electoral Commission's dilemma' - which was the easier we make it look, the easier people think it is," he said. "I've had different comments over the years, from people I know pretty well, along the lines of 'You're so lucky, sweet job, it must be nice to work every three years, then it's pina coladas and away you go' and maybe that's okay. "Australians love their electoral system, they trust the AEC greatly, and maybe that's a good thing, that it's seen as unremarkable." And that's the thing about the King's Birthday honours - they're a chance to shine a light on the things that make our ordinary and everyday lives easy, or straightforward, or successful. Mr Rogers is in distinguished company this year, with the likes of broadcaster Phillip Adams, who was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for his services to the media, the arts, cultural leadership and the community, alongside husband-and-wife creative powerhouse Baz Lurhmann and Catherine Martin, for eminent service to the arts. Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been appointed AC, routine postnominals for former holders of the nation's top office, but an honour that will not pass without some criticism. Former model and television host Deborah Hutton, who had two skin cancers removed from her face and advocated for sun safety, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to community health and to media. There are many extraordinary people living throughout our communities, and the King's Birthday is an opportunity to reflect on how lucky we are to live in such a diverse country. Much like elections, a rich and varied life doesn't happen automatically, or without effort. Despite their seeming ubiquity in Australian life, elections don't just happen. Turning up on election day, having your name crossed off the roll and repairing to a booth to exercise your democratic right ahead of nabbing a democracy sausage comes about as the result of an elaborate process overseen by the Australian Election Commission. And despite Australia's compulsory voting, our system is the subject of much envy the world over. And there's none more deserving of one of a King's Birthday honour this year than former Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers, who has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to public administration and leadership and administration of Australia's democratic electoral system. As commissioner for a decade, Mr Rogers led the agency to successfully deliver the 2016, 2019 and 2022 federal elections, numerous by-elections and boundary redistributions in every Australian state and territory. He also led the AEC in 2023 to deliver the Indigenous Voice referendum, the first referendum held in Australia in nearly a quarter of a century. Most Australians are blissfully unaware that much of the system we take for granted comes down to a dedicated team of distinguished public servants, but this fact, in and of itself, is one to emulate. "Running the election, it is Australia's largest peacetime logistic operation," Mr Rogers said last week. "If you think about it, 105,000 workers, 8000 polling places, it's like setting up a Fortune 500 company in five weeks and then disassembling it a couple of weeks after the event." And with talk of stolen elections in the United States and elsewhere, Mr Rogers didn't mind that Australians just expected their electoral system to work. "We used to have this thing called the 'Electoral Commission's dilemma' - which was the easier we make it look, the easier people think it is," he said. "I've had different comments over the years, from people I know pretty well, along the lines of 'You're so lucky, sweet job, it must be nice to work every three years, then it's pina coladas and away you go' and maybe that's okay. "Australians love their electoral system, they trust the AEC greatly, and maybe that's a good thing, that it's seen as unremarkable." And that's the thing about the King's Birthday honours - they're a chance to shine a light on the things that make our ordinary and everyday lives easy, or straightforward, or successful. Mr Rogers is in distinguished company this year, with the likes of broadcaster Phillip Adams, who was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for his services to the media, the arts, cultural leadership and the community, alongside husband-and-wife creative powerhouse Baz Lurhmann and Catherine Martin, for eminent service to the arts. Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been appointed AC, routine postnominals for former holders of the nation's top office, but an honour that will not pass without some criticism. Former model and television host Deborah Hutton, who had two skin cancers removed from her face and advocated for sun safety, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to community health and to media. There are many extraordinary people living throughout our communities, and the King's Birthday is an opportunity to reflect on how lucky we are to live in such a diverse country. Much like elections, a rich and varied life doesn't happen automatically, or without effort. Despite their seeming ubiquity in Australian life, elections don't just happen. Turning up on election day, having your name crossed off the roll and repairing to a booth to exercise your democratic right ahead of nabbing a democracy sausage comes about as the result of an elaborate process overseen by the Australian Election Commission. And despite Australia's compulsory voting, our system is the subject of much envy the world over. And there's none more deserving of one of a King's Birthday honour this year than former Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers, who has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to public administration and leadership and administration of Australia's democratic electoral system. As commissioner for a decade, Mr Rogers led the agency to successfully deliver the 2016, 2019 and 2022 federal elections, numerous by-elections and boundary redistributions in every Australian state and territory. He also led the AEC in 2023 to deliver the Indigenous Voice referendum, the first referendum held in Australia in nearly a quarter of a century. Most Australians are blissfully unaware that much of the system we take for granted comes down to a dedicated team of distinguished public servants, but this fact, in and of itself, is one to emulate. "Running the election, it is Australia's largest peacetime logistic operation," Mr Rogers said last week. "If you think about it, 105,000 workers, 8000 polling places, it's like setting up a Fortune 500 company in five weeks and then disassembling it a couple of weeks after the event." And with talk of stolen elections in the United States and elsewhere, Mr Rogers didn't mind that Australians just expected their electoral system to work. "We used to have this thing called the 'Electoral Commission's dilemma' - which was the easier we make it look, the easier people think it is," he said. "I've had different comments over the years, from people I know pretty well, along the lines of 'You're so lucky, sweet job, it must be nice to work every three years, then it's pina coladas and away you go' and maybe that's okay. "Australians love their electoral system, they trust the AEC greatly, and maybe that's a good thing, that it's seen as unremarkable." And that's the thing about the King's Birthday honours - they're a chance to shine a light on the things that make our ordinary and everyday lives easy, or straightforward, or successful. Mr Rogers is in distinguished company this year, with the likes of broadcaster Phillip Adams, who was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for his services to the media, the arts, cultural leadership and the community, alongside husband-and-wife creative powerhouse Baz Lurhmann and Catherine Martin, for eminent service to the arts. Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been appointed AC, routine postnominals for former holders of the nation's top office, but an honour that will not pass without some criticism. Former model and television host Deborah Hutton, who had two skin cancers removed from her face and advocated for sun safety, was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to community health and to media. There are many extraordinary people living throughout our communities, and the King's Birthday is an opportunity to reflect on how lucky we are to live in such a diverse country. Much like elections, a rich and varied life doesn't happen automatically, or without effort.
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Take it up with God': preacher sued for anti-Semitism
Wissam Haddad's fiery sermons have racked up thousands of views online but are now being scrutinised in a lawsuit brought by a Jewish group alleging anti-Semitism. The Islamist preacher maintains all his words are backed up by scriptures from the Koran and other Islamic texts. "I like to call Islam a divine ideology and I'm going to give reference from that," he told AAP ahead of his Federal Court hearing on Tuesday. "If people have an issue with the reference that I'm bringing, that I wholeheartedly know and believe is from God, then they should take this up with God, not me." The Sydney-based Al Madina Dawah Centre cleric has been accused of racial discrimination in more than 110 pages of court documents that detail inflammatory remarks in sermons posted on social media. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim and deputy president Robert Goot are seeking injunctions requiring the removal of the allegedly racist speeches and prohibiting Mr Haddad from making similar comments in future. The pair, who are not seeking compensation or damages, hope the case will serve as "a warning to deter others seeking to mobilise racism in order to promote their political views". Among the speeches detailed in their statement of claim, Mr Haddad blames the roots of "the enmity that we see today" on "none other than the Jews... because their forefathers had shown the same enmity to the Prophet (Mohammed)." He also claimed divisions among Muslim communities were because of Jewish people. Mr Haddad said most of the speeches identified had been taken down because he "didn't want the headache", while the complaint was being mediated at the Australian Human Rights Commission. But he said he refused to comply with other demands from the council including reading a pre-written apology at a synagogue and attending an anti-racism workshop, and this had prompted the Federal Court lawsuit. The council was contacted to verify Mr Haddad's claims but it declined to comment instead referring to a statement when it launched the lawsuit which seeks "to defend the honour of the community." ECAJ is a prominent group representing the Jewish community that has received more than $55 million in funding from the federal government in the past two years in light of anti-Semitic attacks on synagogues and schools. The council's co-CEO Alex Ryvchin's former home was the target of an arson and graffiti attack in January. Mr Haddad has courted controversy for being friends with former Australian members who joined terrorist group the Islamic State and posted gruesome videos of their atrocities, including beheadings. He defended his relationship with Khaled Sharrouf, an Australian ISIS member who was reportedly killed in a drone strike in Syria, because he was fighting other combatants in a bloody civil war. The preacher, also known as Abu Ousayd, maintains religious and political contexts are needed to situate his sermons, including the war on Gaza. "If you really look into it, our talks were never aimed at any Jews in Australia, rather we were speaking about the Jewish state of Israel," he said. Mr Haddad maintains he wears his emotions on his sleeve and that he has not breached any laws. "This is a test, not for me, this is a test for democracy itself." Wissam Haddad's fiery sermons have racked up thousands of views online but are now being scrutinised in a lawsuit brought by a Jewish group alleging anti-Semitism. The Islamist preacher maintains all his words are backed up by scriptures from the Koran and other Islamic texts. "I like to call Islam a divine ideology and I'm going to give reference from that," he told AAP ahead of his Federal Court hearing on Tuesday. "If people have an issue with the reference that I'm bringing, that I wholeheartedly know and believe is from God, then they should take this up with God, not me." The Sydney-based Al Madina Dawah Centre cleric has been accused of racial discrimination in more than 110 pages of court documents that detail inflammatory remarks in sermons posted on social media. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim and deputy president Robert Goot are seeking injunctions requiring the removal of the allegedly racist speeches and prohibiting Mr Haddad from making similar comments in future. The pair, who are not seeking compensation or damages, hope the case will serve as "a warning to deter others seeking to mobilise racism in order to promote their political views". Among the speeches detailed in their statement of claim, Mr Haddad blames the roots of "the enmity that we see today" on "none other than the Jews... because their forefathers had shown the same enmity to the Prophet (Mohammed)." He also claimed divisions among Muslim communities were because of Jewish people. Mr Haddad said most of the speeches identified had been taken down because he "didn't want the headache", while the complaint was being mediated at the Australian Human Rights Commission. But he said he refused to comply with other demands from the council including reading a pre-written apology at a synagogue and attending an anti-racism workshop, and this had prompted the Federal Court lawsuit. The council was contacted to verify Mr Haddad's claims but it declined to comment instead referring to a statement when it launched the lawsuit which seeks "to defend the honour of the community." ECAJ is a prominent group representing the Jewish community that has received more than $55 million in funding from the federal government in the past two years in light of anti-Semitic attacks on synagogues and schools. The council's co-CEO Alex Ryvchin's former home was the target of an arson and graffiti attack in January. Mr Haddad has courted controversy for being friends with former Australian members who joined terrorist group the Islamic State and posted gruesome videos of their atrocities, including beheadings. He defended his relationship with Khaled Sharrouf, an Australian ISIS member who was reportedly killed in a drone strike in Syria, because he was fighting other combatants in a bloody civil war. The preacher, also known as Abu Ousayd, maintains religious and political contexts are needed to situate his sermons, including the war on Gaza. "If you really look into it, our talks were never aimed at any Jews in Australia, rather we were speaking about the Jewish state of Israel," he said. Mr Haddad maintains he wears his emotions on his sleeve and that he has not breached any laws. "This is a test, not for me, this is a test for democracy itself." Wissam Haddad's fiery sermons have racked up thousands of views online but are now being scrutinised in a lawsuit brought by a Jewish group alleging anti-Semitism. The Islamist preacher maintains all his words are backed up by scriptures from the Koran and other Islamic texts. "I like to call Islam a divine ideology and I'm going to give reference from that," he told AAP ahead of his Federal Court hearing on Tuesday. "If people have an issue with the reference that I'm bringing, that I wholeheartedly know and believe is from God, then they should take this up with God, not me." The Sydney-based Al Madina Dawah Centre cleric has been accused of racial discrimination in more than 110 pages of court documents that detail inflammatory remarks in sermons posted on social media. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim and deputy president Robert Goot are seeking injunctions requiring the removal of the allegedly racist speeches and prohibiting Mr Haddad from making similar comments in future. The pair, who are not seeking compensation or damages, hope the case will serve as "a warning to deter others seeking to mobilise racism in order to promote their political views". Among the speeches detailed in their statement of claim, Mr Haddad blames the roots of "the enmity that we see today" on "none other than the Jews... because their forefathers had shown the same enmity to the Prophet (Mohammed)." He also claimed divisions among Muslim communities were because of Jewish people. Mr Haddad said most of the speeches identified had been taken down because he "didn't want the headache", while the complaint was being mediated at the Australian Human Rights Commission. But he said he refused to comply with other demands from the council including reading a pre-written apology at a synagogue and attending an anti-racism workshop, and this had prompted the Federal Court lawsuit. The council was contacted to verify Mr Haddad's claims but it declined to comment instead referring to a statement when it launched the lawsuit which seeks "to defend the honour of the community." ECAJ is a prominent group representing the Jewish community that has received more than $55 million in funding from the federal government in the past two years in light of anti-Semitic attacks on synagogues and schools. The council's co-CEO Alex Ryvchin's former home was the target of an arson and graffiti attack in January. Mr Haddad has courted controversy for being friends with former Australian members who joined terrorist group the Islamic State and posted gruesome videos of their atrocities, including beheadings. He defended his relationship with Khaled Sharrouf, an Australian ISIS member who was reportedly killed in a drone strike in Syria, because he was fighting other combatants in a bloody civil war. The preacher, also known as Abu Ousayd, maintains religious and political contexts are needed to situate his sermons, including the war on Gaza. "If you really look into it, our talks were never aimed at any Jews in Australia, rather we were speaking about the Jewish state of Israel," he said. Mr Haddad maintains he wears his emotions on his sleeve and that he has not breached any laws. "This is a test, not for me, this is a test for democracy itself." Wissam Haddad's fiery sermons have racked up thousands of views online but are now being scrutinised in a lawsuit brought by a Jewish group alleging anti-Semitism. The Islamist preacher maintains all his words are backed up by scriptures from the Koran and other Islamic texts. "I like to call Islam a divine ideology and I'm going to give reference from that," he told AAP ahead of his Federal Court hearing on Tuesday. "If people have an issue with the reference that I'm bringing, that I wholeheartedly know and believe is from God, then they should take this up with God, not me." The Sydney-based Al Madina Dawah Centre cleric has been accused of racial discrimination in more than 110 pages of court documents that detail inflammatory remarks in sermons posted on social media. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Peter Wertheim and deputy president Robert Goot are seeking injunctions requiring the removal of the allegedly racist speeches and prohibiting Mr Haddad from making similar comments in future. The pair, who are not seeking compensation or damages, hope the case will serve as "a warning to deter others seeking to mobilise racism in order to promote their political views". Among the speeches detailed in their statement of claim, Mr Haddad blames the roots of "the enmity that we see today" on "none other than the Jews... because their forefathers had shown the same enmity to the Prophet (Mohammed)." He also claimed divisions among Muslim communities were because of Jewish people. Mr Haddad said most of the speeches identified had been taken down because he "didn't want the headache", while the complaint was being mediated at the Australian Human Rights Commission. But he said he refused to comply with other demands from the council including reading a pre-written apology at a synagogue and attending an anti-racism workshop, and this had prompted the Federal Court lawsuit. The council was contacted to verify Mr Haddad's claims but it declined to comment instead referring to a statement when it launched the lawsuit which seeks "to defend the honour of the community." ECAJ is a prominent group representing the Jewish community that has received more than $55 million in funding from the federal government in the past two years in light of anti-Semitic attacks on synagogues and schools. The council's co-CEO Alex Ryvchin's former home was the target of an arson and graffiti attack in January. Mr Haddad has courted controversy for being friends with former Australian members who joined terrorist group the Islamic State and posted gruesome videos of their atrocities, including beheadings. He defended his relationship with Khaled Sharrouf, an Australian ISIS member who was reportedly killed in a drone strike in Syria, because he was fighting other combatants in a bloody civil war. The preacher, also known as Abu Ousayd, maintains religious and political contexts are needed to situate his sermons, including the war on Gaza. "If you really look into it, our talks were never aimed at any Jews in Australia, rather we were speaking about the Jewish state of Israel," he said. Mr Haddad maintains he wears his emotions on his sleeve and that he has not breached any laws. "This is a test, not for me, this is a test for democracy itself."
