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The Age
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Age
‘Heavy-handed': Former minister breaks ranks on antisemitism report
A former Albanese government minister has broken ranks to criticise aspects of the report handed down by the government's special envoy to combat antisemitism as 'heavy-handed', questioning the contested definition of antisemitism used in Jillian Segal's recommendations. 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. Loading 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.
Sydney Morning Herald
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Heavy-handed': Former minister breaks ranks on antisemitism report
A former Albanese government minister has broken ranks to criticise aspects of the report handed down by the government's special envoy to combat antisemitism as 'heavy-handed', questioning the contested definition of antisemitism used in Jillian Segal's recommendations. 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. Loading 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.
West Australian
15-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
James Paterson labels 1.2 million home building goal ‘delusional' as Treasury flags shortfall in leak
The Coalition's acting housing spokesman has called the government's 1.2 million housing target 'delusional', claiming the amount of homes set to be built is unrealistic. Speaking on ABC's RN Breakfast, Liberal senator James Paterson said that while it was 'a good thing' to have targets, they had to be achievable. 'It's certainly a good thing to have targets and it is a good thing to be ambitious, but the ambition has to be realistic and achievable and not delusional and I think we're now getting into that level of delusion because a target of 1.2 million homes by 2029 would require the government to be building about 250,000 homes a year when only about 170,000 are being constructed, which is a fall from under the previous Coalition government of about 180,000 a year.' 'So we're going backwards not forwards, and it's time for either radical policy change to deliver those houses or acceptance that target is not going to be said as Treasury says.' Senator Paterson's statement comes after advice from the Treasury was accidentally given to the ABC in a partially unredacted freedom of information release. The advice warned that the 1.2 million home target 'would not be met'. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Monday the government would reach the target but acknowledged that it would need to 'do better'. 'Under current trajectories, we would fall short,' Mr Chalmers said. 'But that doesn't mean that between now and over the course of the next four years that we can't consider ways and work with the states and territories and others, local governments and others, on ways to build more homes.' In the interview on RN, Senator Paterson was asked whether the Coalition needed to rethink its position on reducing net migration in order to bring in more skilled workers to help address housing shortages. Senator Paterson said all of the party's policies were under review. 'Even in the last term, while we are arguing for overall reduced migration, we did say that one area that should be prioritised within the skilled migration program that would've continued was construction given the urgent national priority of building more homes,' he said. Senator Patterson added that the Coalition had an 'ambitious' policy platform at the previous election on housing, including allowing first-home buyers to deduct mortgage payments against their income tax Senator Paterson was also asked what areas the Coalition would look at to unlock land and increase development. He said the party would explore supply on the boundaries of cities and within the existing 'footprint' of cities, which describes just about everywhere.
Perth Now
15-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
‘Delusional': Housing target slammed
The Coalition's acting housing spokesman has called the government's 1.2 million housing target 'delusional', claiming the amount of homes set to be built is unrealistic. Speaking on ABC's RN Breakfast, Liberal senator James Paterson said that while it was 'a good thing' to have targets, they had to be achievable. 'It's certainly a good thing to have targets and it is a good thing to be ambitious, but the ambition has to be realistic and achievable and not delusional and I think we're now getting into that level of delusion because a target of 1.2 million homes by 2029 would require the government to be building about 250,000 homes a year when only about 170,000 are being constructed, which is a fall from under the previous Coalition government of about 180,000 a year.' Senator James Paterson called the government's housing target 'delusional'. NewsWire/ David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia 'So we're going backwards not forwards, and it's time for either radical policy change to deliver those houses or acceptance that target is not going to be said as Treasury says.' Senator Paterson's statement comes after advice from the Treasury was accidentally given to the ABC in a partially unredacted freedom of information release. The advice warned that the 1.2 million home target 'would not be met'. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Monday the government would reach the target but acknowledged that it would need to 'do better'. 'Under current trajectories, we would fall short,' Mr Chalmers said. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has backed the government's ability to deliver on the 1.2 million target. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia 'But that doesn't mean that between now and over the course of the next four years that we can't consider ways and work with the states and territories and others, local governments and others, on ways to build more homes.' In the interview on RN, Senator Paterson was asked whether the Coalition needed to rethink its position on reducing net migration in order to bring in more skilled workers to help address housing shortages. Senator Paterson said all of the party's policies were under review. 'Even in the last term, while we are arguing for overall reduced migration, we did say that one area that should be prioritised within the skilled migration program that would've continued was construction given the urgent national priority of building more homes,' he said. Senator Patterson added that the Coalition had an 'ambitious' policy platform at the previous election on housing, including allowing first-home buyers to deduct mortgage payments against their income tax Senator Paterson was also asked what areas the Coalition would look at to unlock land and increase development. He said the party would explore supply on the boundaries of cities and within the existing 'footprint' of cities, which describes just about everywhere.
West Australian
14-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
James Paterson says government's 1.2 million housing target ‘delusional'
The Coalition's acting housing spokesman has called the government's 1.2 million housing target 'delusional', claiming the amount of homes set to be built is unrealistic. Speaking on ABC's RN Breakfast, Liberal senator James Paterson said that while it was 'a good thing' to have targets, they had to be achievable. 'It's certainly a good thing to have targets and it is a good thing to be ambitious, but the ambition has to be realistic and achievable and not delusional and I think we're now getting into that level of delusion because a target of 1.2 million homes by 2029 would require the government to be building about 250,000 homes a year when only about 170,000 are being constructed, which is a fall from under the previous Coalition government of about 180,000 a year.' 'So we're going backwards not forwards, and it's time for either radical policy change to deliver those houses or acceptance that target is not going to be said as Treasury says.' Senator Paterson's statement comes after advice from the Treasury was accidentally given to the ABC in a partially unredacted freedom of information release. The advice warned that the 1.2 million home target 'would not be met'. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Monday the government would reach the target but acknowledged that it would need to 'do better'. 'Under current trajectories, we would fall short,' Mr Chalmers said. 'But that doesn't mean that between now and over the course of the next four years that we can't consider ways and work with the states and territories and others, local governments and others, on ways to build more homes.' In the interview on RN, Senator Paterson was asked whether the Coalition needed to rethink its position on reducing net migration in order to bring in more skilled workers to help address housing shortages. Senator Paterson said all of the party's policies were under review. 'Even in the last term, while we are arguing for overall reduced migration, we did say that one area that should be prioritised within the skilled migration program that would've continued was construction given the urgent national priority of building more homes,' he said. Senator Patterson added that the Coalition had an 'ambitious' policy platform at the previous election on housing, including allowing first-home buyers to deduct mortgage payments against their income tax Senator Paterson was also asked what areas the Coalition would look at to unlock land and increase development. He said the party would explore supply on the boundaries of cities and within the existing 'footprint' of cities, which describes just about everywhere.
