Latest news with #Chappell
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Call to strip arts institutions of funding over antisemitism raises alarm bells
'These are artists who are getting cancelled mostly by small venues who say 'we can't afford to get cancelled by the pro-Palestinian mob on social media'… [venue owners] who are deeply apologetic, but this is a real problem.' At the same time, several high-profile pro-Palestinian voices have been penalised: Jayson Gillham at the MSO, Antoinette Lattouf at the ABC, and Khaled Sabsabi, who was invited, uninvited and then re-invited to represent Australia at next year's Venice Biennale. Commissioned by the Albanese Government, Segal's 16-page report says antisemitism has become 'ingrained and normalised within academia and the cultural space' but does not include examples. This is problematic, says Louise Chappell, Scientia Professor, Australian Human Rights Institute, Faculty of Law and Justice at the University of New South Wales, who argues reports of this nature usually provide evidence to support such claims. She says Segal cites a 700 per cent increase in antisemitic hatred without documenting a source, or a baseline from which that figure was extrapolated. It appears to have come from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and to reference complaints to Jewish-based organisations, Chappell says, not official complaints to the police or Australian Human Rights Commission. Segal's office confirmed the figures quoted are from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry report into antisemitism 2024 by Julie Nathan, which categorises, itemises and lists each incident in reverse chronological order to show the increase. Chappell says it's important to know who collated the data and detail about the incidents. 'Is it that you saw a pro-Palestinian encampment at Syd Uni and you walked past and felt uncomfortable, or someone made a direct anti-Jewish slur, or set fire to a Jewish Synagogue and demonstrated direct hatred towards a Jewish person or the community,' she says. 'They are very different things.' Leibler disagrees with criticisms of the report, saying Segal has undertaken a very thorough body of work and most that of the recommendations clearly resonate with the experiences that the Jewish community has had since October 7, 2023, and before. There's no one silver bullet to addressing antisemitism, he says, and education is a large part of the solution. 'It needs to be addressed at multiple levels – it can't just be fixed by government, it can't just be fixed by academia, it can't just be dealt with by the arts. We need to get all parts of civil society aligned on wanting to stamp this out.' The report argues that public funding for cultural institutions – arts festivals, galleries and organisations and artists – 'is not to be used to support or implicitly endorse antisemitic themes or narratives' and says funding should be terminated in such instances. But several sources take issue with Segal's suggested definition of antisemitism, which comes from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Loading Greg Barns SC, spokesman for the Australian Lawyers Alliance, says '[the report's] words invite conflation of the criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It has rightly been condemned by numerous human rights groups … it will have the effect of censorship.' Chappell agrees that although it's not spelt out directly in the report, there is a conflation between being antisemitic and being anti-Israel. 'It's very clear through the use of the IHRA definition whose examples include criticism of Israel or anti-Zionism as antisemitic speech,' she says. 'It's not only a huge problem for universities, but freedom of speech expressed through the arts is also at risk – we've seen with the Creative Australia debacle just how damaging it can be.' Leibler rejects these claims. 'I have been genuinely shocked by the response from certain quarters who have misrepresented what the recommendations involve, particularly this suggestion that the IHRA definition of antisemitism is somehow a highly controversial definition. It's nationally recognised as a definition … by leading experts,' he says. While the government doesn't have a codified definition of anti-semitism, in 2021 the IHRA definition was endorsed by the then-Morrison Coalition government and Labor, under then-opposition leader Anthony Albanese. Barns cautions the government against adopting the report. 'The Segal review recommendations concerning tying funding for arts and cultural organisations to efforts to prevent antisemitism is dangerous and will lead to self censoring,' he says. 'Many cultural and arts organisations rely heavily on government funding so the temptation to refuse to allow works because they are highly critical of Zionism and Israel will be ever present.' According to Barns, current legislation provides protection and there is no need for any further law reform in the hate speech area. 'Ms Segal seems unaware of major hate speech criminal offences reform passed by the Federal Parliament in February. These laws expand when hate speech is said to occur,' he says. 'There is a balance between ensuring that hate speech does not occur and allowing for strident language and representations in the context of protest against human rights abuses.' Chappell says the current climate is already fraught and that several high-profile examples illustrate that. 'It is becoming very toxic in the arts just as it is within universities, the same thing is happening in both. There's a silencing, and it's having a chilling effect on all sides, all people are feeling they can't express themselves. It's very hard to find a place where you can have difficult, straightforward discussion about these issues,' she says. Loading 'It's dividing faculties, and it's dividing arts funders, it's dividing boards as demonstrated by people resigning. High-profile cases such as the Jayson Gillham/MSO case and the ABC with Antoinette Lattouf. It is touching on every key part of our cultural life and wherever freedom of speech and expression is meant to flourish.' Chappell also asks why the report was not released at the same time as its equivalent into Islamophobia, which is due out next month. Context is important, she says, arguing it would have been far better to release both simultaneously, to assure the relevant communities that the government is equally concerned for their well-being. Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, commends Segal's work. 'Jillian has done a phenomenal job. She took her her time and consulted widely both in Australia and abroad with stakeholders within the community and far beyond,' he says. Recent antisemitism didn't come from nowhere, he says, so placing education at the heart of the plan is critical. He argues antisemitism has become normalised and even glamorised in some sectors, including in social media and in the arts. 'Our arts and our cultural festivals, they don't merely reflect Australian culture, they help shape it. I don't think that's a question. They play a vital role in our society in presenting the best of Australia, asking hard questions and showcasing our talents. But ultimately when you have viewpoints that are extreme in any direction, on any particular issue, and they're run through the arts, there's a problem with that and particularly with the treatment of Israel and to some extent with antisemitism, I think that has been an issue. 'There's a clear distinction to be drawn between government policies and politicians in the conduct of the war, no one seeks to stifle that,' Ryvchin says. 'But when that calls for the destruction of Israel and a demonisation of its people that presents something quite different.' 'I think it reveals a different motivation,' he says. Sarah Schwartz, executive officer at the Jewish Council of Australia, doesn't believe the report would stand up to any form of academic scrutiny. 'It's very unclear what research has been relied on. There's a headline that says 'Drivers of antisemitism' but there's no real engagement with the drivers of antisemitism except for these vague references to extremist ideologies and antisemitic narratives and the sort of language that verges on conspiratorial,' she says.
The Age
a day ago
- Politics
- The Age
Call to strip arts institutions of funding over antisemitism raises alarm bells
'These are artists who are getting cancelled mostly by small venues who say 'we can't afford to get cancelled by the pro-Palestinian mob on social media'… [venue owners] who are deeply apologetic, but this is a real problem.' At the same time, several high-profile pro-Palestinian voices have been penalised: Jayson Gillham at the MSO, Antoinette Lattouf at the ABC, and Khaled Sabsabi, who was invited, uninvited and then re-invited to represent Australia at next year's Venice Biennale. Commissioned by the Albanese Government, Segal's 16-page report says antisemitism has become 'ingrained and normalised within academia and the cultural space' but does not include examples. This is problematic, says Louise Chappell, Scientia Professor, Australian Human Rights Institute, Faculty of Law and Justice at the University of New South Wales, who argues reports of this nature usually provide evidence to support such claims. She says Segal cites a 700 per cent increase in antisemitic hatred without documenting a source, or a baseline from which that figure was extrapolated. It appears to have come from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and to reference complaints to Jewish-based organisations, Chappell says, not official complaints to the police or Australian Human Rights Commission. Segal's office confirmed the figures quoted are from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry report into antisemitism 2024 by Julie Nathan, which categorises, itemises and lists each incident in reverse chronological order to show the increase. Chappell says it's important to know who collated the data and detail about the incidents. 'Is it that you saw a pro-Palestinian encampment at Syd Uni and you walked past and felt uncomfortable, or someone made a direct anti-Jewish slur, or set fire to a Jewish Synagogue and demonstrated direct hatred towards a Jewish person or the community,' she says. 'They are very different things.' Leibler disagrees with criticisms of the report, saying Segal has undertaken a very thorough body of work and most that of the recommendations clearly resonate with the experiences that the Jewish community has had since October 7, 2023, and before. There's no one silver bullet to addressing antisemitism, he says, and education is a large part of the solution. 'It needs to be addressed at multiple levels – it can't just be fixed by government, it can't just be fixed by academia, it can't just be dealt with by the arts. We need to get all parts of civil society aligned on wanting to stamp this out.' The report argues that public funding for cultural institutions – arts festivals, galleries and organisations and artists – 'is not to be used to support or implicitly endorse antisemitic themes or narratives' and says funding should be terminated in such instances. But several sources take issue with Segal's suggested definition of antisemitism, which comes from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Loading Greg Barns SC, spokesman for the Australian Lawyers Alliance, says '[the report's] words invite conflation of the criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It has rightly been condemned by numerous human rights groups … it will have the effect of censorship.' Chappell agrees that although it's not spelt out directly in the report, there is a conflation between being antisemitic and being anti-Israel. 'It's very clear through the use of the IHRA definition whose examples include criticism of Israel or anti-Zionism as antisemitic speech,' she says. 'It's not only a huge problem for universities, but freedom of speech expressed through the arts is also at risk – we've seen with the Creative Australia debacle just how damaging it can be.' Leibler rejects these claims. 'I have been genuinely shocked by the response from certain quarters who have misrepresented what the recommendations involve, particularly this suggestion that the IHRA definition of antisemitism is somehow a highly controversial definition. It's nationally recognised as a definition … by leading experts,' he says. While the government doesn't have a codified definition of anti-semitism, in 2021 the IHRA definition was endorsed by the then-Morrison Coalition government and Labor, under then-opposition leader Anthony Albanese. Barns cautions the government against adopting the report. 'The Segal review recommendations concerning tying funding for arts and cultural organisations to efforts to prevent antisemitism is dangerous and will lead to self censoring,' he says. 'Many cultural and arts organisations rely heavily on government funding so the temptation to refuse to allow works because they are highly critical of Zionism and Israel will be ever present.' According to Barns, current legislation provides protection and there is no need for any further law reform in the hate speech area. 'Ms Segal seems unaware of major hate speech criminal offences reform passed by the Federal Parliament in February. These laws expand when hate speech is said to occur,' he says. 'There is a balance between ensuring that hate speech does not occur and allowing for strident language and representations in the context of protest against human rights abuses.' Chappell says the current climate is already fraught and that several high-profile examples illustrate that. 'It is becoming very toxic in the arts just as it is within universities, the same thing is happening in both. There's a silencing, and it's having a chilling effect on all sides, all people are feeling they can't express themselves. It's very hard to find a place where you can have difficult, straightforward discussion about these issues,' she says. Loading 'It's dividing faculties, and it's dividing arts funders, it's dividing boards as demonstrated by people resigning. High-profile cases such as the Jayson Gillham/MSO case and the ABC with Antoinette Lattouf. It is touching on every key part of our cultural life and wherever freedom of speech and expression is meant to flourish.' Chappell also asks why the report was not released at the same time as its equivalent into Islamophobia, which is due out next month. Context is important, she says, arguing it would have been far better to release both simultaneously, to assure the relevant communities that the government is equally concerned for their well-being. Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, commends Segal's work. 'Jillian has done a phenomenal job. She took her her time and consulted widely both in Australia and abroad with stakeholders within the community and far beyond,' he says. Recent antisemitism didn't come from nowhere, he says, so placing education at the heart of the plan is critical. He argues antisemitism has become normalised and even glamorised in some sectors, including in social media and in the arts. 'Our arts and our cultural festivals, they don't merely reflect Australian culture, they help shape it. I don't think that's a question. They play a vital role in our society in presenting the best of Australia, asking hard questions and showcasing our talents. But ultimately when you have viewpoints that are extreme in any direction, on any particular issue, and they're run through the arts, there's a problem with that and particularly with the treatment of Israel and to some extent with antisemitism, I think that has been an issue. 'There's a clear distinction to be drawn between government policies and politicians in the conduct of the war, no one seeks to stifle that,' Ryvchin says. 'But when that calls for the destruction of Israel and a demonisation of its people that presents something quite different.' 'I think it reveals a different motivation,' he says. Sarah Schwartz, executive officer at the Jewish Council of Australia, doesn't believe the report would stand up to any form of academic scrutiny. 'It's very unclear what research has been relied on. There's a headline that says 'Drivers of antisemitism' but there's no real engagement with the drivers of antisemitism except for these vague references to extremist ideologies and antisemitic narratives and the sort of language that verges on conspiratorial,' she says.
India.com
4 days ago
- Sport
- India.com
'Captain should've directly told Ravindra Jadeja...': Greg Chappell blames Shubman Gill for Lord's defeat
Shubman Gill Australian cricketer Greg Chappell praised Ravindra Jadeja's efforts in handling the pressure but felt he should have been more proactive while batting with the tail. Although this criticism has often been directed at Jadeja despite his strong performance, Chappell's viewpoint stands out as he equally blamed captain Shubman Gill for failing to guide Jadeja's strategy during that crucial phase. Although Jadeja did a good job of shielding Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, Chappell pointed out that if India were to win the game, he needed to go for boundaries. He pointed out that merely taking a single each over wouldn't have been enough, especially with minimal contribution from the other end. 'The Lord's Test also provided a telling moment with the way Jadeja was managed late in the match. Left with the tail, Jadeja did what many specialist batters do in that situation: he shielded the tail, farmed the strike, and played conservatively. On the surface, it was a disciplined innings. But was it the right one?' asked Chappell in his column for ESPNCricinfo. Chappel cites Ben Stokes 2019 knock as example for India The former India head coach said that Gill should have clearly instructed Jadeja to go for the win while the tailenders were still at the crease. 'The truth is, Jadeja was the only recognised batter left. If India were to chase down the target, he had to take calculated risks. His job wasn't to leave balls and collect singles – it was to win the match. That clarity should have come from the dressing room, from the captain. He needed to be told directly: 'You are the man who has to get this done. The tail's job is to hang in there with you, but you must go for the win. 'We saw exactly that from England's Ben Stokes against Australia in Leeds in 2019. In a similar situation, he backed himself and produced one of the best innings of the past 50 years. Importantly, Stokes played that innings knowing that, succeed or fail, his team and leadership would have his back. That's the mindset that needs to be fostered in any great team,' Chappell added. Ravindra Jadeja batted for a duration of 3 hrs along with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj and added 35 abd 23 runs respectively, but it was not enough to win the match. India lost the match by 22 runs. Chappell points finger on Shubman Gill's captaincy Chappell pointed finger on Shubman Gill and said,'And this is where Gill's leadership challenge becomes very real. He must start setting those expectations – clearly, proactively, and consistently. Gill must define what sort of team he wants India to be. The captain sets the tone – not just with words, but with actions, clarity of purpose, and visible standards,' he added. Chappell highlighted on Gill's captaincy and said that Gill needs to quickly acquire the communication skills that great captains possess. Whether in the dressing room, on the field, or during training, he emphasized the importance of calm, effective communication. Gill can't lead the team with his batting alone, Chappell says; he needs to develop his communication skills to bring the players together, give them confidence, and gain their trust.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
"Spotlight Shines Firmly On Him": Ex-India Coach On Shubman Gill Ahead Of 4th Test
Former Australia captain Greg Chappell believes Shubman Gill has displayed greatness with the bat and shown glimpses of his potential as a young captain, but said his real test begins now with India trailing 1-2 in the five-match Test series against England. India lost the third Test against England at Lord's by 22 runs to go 1-2 down in the series. The two teams will face off in the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Manchester starting July 23. "As India prepare for the final two Tests of their series in England, the spotlight now shines firmly on their 25-year-old captain Shubman Gill. A bright young talent, he has shown greatness with the bat and glimpses of leadership potential, but this moment will define his trajectory as a Test captain. "It's not an easy environment in which to grow, but it's the one he's in - and the stakes couldn't be higher," Chappell wrote in his column in Chappell wants Gill to set the tone for the side with his actions. "Gill must define what sort of team he wants India to be. The captain sets the tone - not just with words, but with actions, clarity of purpose, and visible standards. "That means demanding discipline in the field. India cannot afford to slip back into being a poor fielding side. The best teams are superb in the field. They don't give easy runs. They don't drop chances," he wrote. Chappell wants Gill to be firm in picking the side he feels can win a match for him. "The selectors and Gill must pick and stick. He must identify the core group of players he trusts, lay out a clear game plan, and communicate individual roles within it. Every player should know what is expected of them and where they fit in. "Too often, in teams that struggle, players are left to work it out for themselves. That can't be left to chance at this level," the Australian great wrote. Chappell said a captain should be a good communicator and its high time Gill should adopt that quality. "Great captains are great communicators. Gill must become one - and quickly. Whether it's at training, in the middle or in the dressing room during a break - clear, calm communication is essential. "His bat can't always do the talking. He must learn to speak in a way that aligns the group, encourages belief, and creates trust," he said. "He also needs to enunciate the right approach. Batters must be told to play positively and bat in partnerships. If a batter gets a start, it is critical to go on and get a big score. Collapses come when players who are set decide that they don't want to keep working that hard." Chappell said creating pressure through consistent bowling is as important as taking wickets. "Bowlers must know that it's not just about taking wickets but about building pressure: bowling good balls, good overs, and good spells. Pressure creates mistakes. It's not magic, it's method," he wrote. Chappell said it is time for Gill to stamp his authority as a leader and not just as a batter, as India look to bounce back in the series with two matches remaining. "If Gill wants to become a great Test captain, this is his moment to stamp his authority. Not just with the bat, but with his leadership. Set the standard. Demand it of others. Pick your team. Back them. And make sure every man knows what is expected and hold them to it," he wrote. "Because in the end, cricket isn't about heroes. It's about partnerships. It's about teams. And it's about captains who bring the best out of those around them. "If Gill can lead with clarity of thought and strength of purpose, he won't just shape this series, he'll shape the future of Indian cricket," Chappell added.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Time To End 'Obsession' Over Jasprit Bumrah? Australia Great Drops 'Formula' Bombshell
Legendary Australia cricketer Greg Chappell believes that the obsession over Jasprit Bumrah 's fitness needs to stop and he pointed out that 'collective performance' will be key for the Indian cricket team in the upcoming Test matches against England. India trail 1-2 in the five-match Test series against England and the Shubman Gill -led side has lost the last two matches where Bumrah has played. Chappell, who was once the head coach of the Indian cricket team, pointed out that they win a lot even without Bumrah and urged the conversation to shift from Bumrah to the team's performance. "And a word on Bumrah: the obsession with whether he plays or doesn't is missing the point. India have won plenty of Tests without him recently. The key is not individual brilliance, it's collective performance. Teams win when everyone does their job. When the captain makes sure each player is clear, confident, and committed to the plan. That's the formula," Greg Chappell wrote in his column at ESPNcricinfo. Chappell believes Shubman Gill has displayed greatness with the bat and shown glimpses of his potential as a young captain, but said his real test begins now with India trailing 1-2 in the five-match Test series against England. India lost the third Test against England at Lord's by 22 runs to go 1-2 down in the series. The two teams will face off in the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Manchester starting July 23. "As India prepare for the final two Tests of their series in England, the spotlight now shines firmly on their 25-year-old captain Shubman Gill. A bright young talent, he has shown greatness with the bat and glimpses of leadership potential, but this moment will define his trajectory as a Test captain. "It's not an easy environment in which to grow, but it's the one he's in - and the stakes couldn't be higher," Chappell wrote in his column in Chappell wants Gill to set the tone for the side with his actions. "Gill must define what sort of team he wants India to be. The captain sets the tone - not just with words, but with actions, clarity of purpose, and visible standards. That means demanding discipline in the field. India cannot afford to slip back into being a poor fielding side. The best teams are superb in the field. They don't give easy runs. They don't drop chances," he wrote.
