Latest news with #RacialDiscriminationAct1975
West Australian
a day ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Sydney preacher taken to court over alleged anti-Semitic speech
A Muslim preacher is being sued by Australia's peak Jewish body over alleged anti-Semitic speeches in which he allegedly described Jewish people as 'vile' and 'treacherous'. Wissam Haddad, also known as Abu Ousayd, is being taken to the Federal Court by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) over a series of lectures he gave in November 2023. A three-day hearing in Sydney's Federal Court is set to begin on Tuesday. Recordings of the speeches made at the Bankstown centre, which allegedly included derogatory generalisations about Jewish people, such as descriptions of them as 'vile' and 'treacherous' people, were uploaded online. The proceedings have been brought by ECAJ co-chief executive Peter Wertheim AM and deputy president Robert Goot AO SC, who claim Mr Haddad breached the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. Mr Wertheim said they previously attempted 'in good faith' to resolve the matter through the Australian Human Rights Commission, but a conciliated resolution could not be achieved. 'Accordingly, we have commenced proceedings in the Federal Court,' he said. 'Australia has long enjoyed a reputation as a multicultural success story where people of many different faiths and ethnic backgrounds have for the most part lived in harmony and mutual respect.' Mr Wertheim added that all Australians were 'free to observe our faith and traditions within the bounds of Australian law'. 'Maintaining and strengthening social cohesion is the role of governments and government agencies, but lately they have failed us,' he said. 'It should not fall on our community, or any other community, to take private legal action. However, in the circumstances we feel we have no alternative.'
Perth Now
a day ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Preacher trial over alleged hate speech
A Muslim preacher is being sued by Australia's peak Jewish body over alleged anti-Semitic speeches in which he allegedly described Jewish people as 'vile' and 'treacherous'. Wissam Haddad, also known as Abu Ousayd, is being taken to the Federal Court by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) over a series of lectures he gave in November 2023. A three-day hearing in Sydney's Federal Court is set to begin on Tuesday. Wissam Haddad is being sued over a series of alleged anti-Semitic speeches delivered at a Bankstown religious centre. NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia Recordings of the speeches made at the Bankstown centre, which allegedly included derogatory generalisations about Jewish people, such as descriptions of them as 'vile' and 'treacherous' people, were uploaded online. The proceedings have been brought by ECAJ co-chief executive Peter Wertheim AM and deputy president Robert Goot AO SC, who claim Mr Haddad breached the Racial Discrimination Act 1975. Mr Wertheim said they previously attempted 'in good faith' to resolve the matter through the Australian Human Rights Commission, but a conciliated resolution could not be achieved. 'Accordingly, we have commenced proceedings in the Federal Court,' he said. He is being taken to the Federal Court by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. Supplied Credit: Supplied 'Australia has long enjoyed a reputation as a multicultural success story where people of many different faiths and ethnic backgrounds have for the most part lived in harmony and mutual respect.' Mr Wertheim added that all Australians were 'free to observe our faith and traditions within the bounds of Australian law'. 'Maintaining and strengthening social cohesion is the role of governments and government agencies, but lately they have failed us,' he said. 'It should not fall on our community, or any other community, to take private legal action. However, in the circumstances we feel we have no alternative.'
Perth Now
20-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
State sued over 28 years of racism claim
Queensland Health have been hit with a class action over allegations of racial discrimination that claim Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people received inadequate healthcare spanning three decades. The class action alleges First Nations people were withheld or denied adequate treatment, had their concerns dismissed and received substandard medical care, which was unlawful and breached the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). Litigators JGA Saddler filed the class action on Tuesday on behalf of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were subject to discriminatory conduct by the North West and Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Services between 1996 and 2024. JGA Saddler director Rebecca Jancauskas said the state of Queensland needed to be held accountable for systematic racism experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the public health system. Photo: Supplied. Credit: Supplied JGA Saddler director Rebecca Jancauskas said the state needed to be held accountable for systematic practices that resulted in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who interacted with certain healthcare providers in Queensland receiving a lower standard of healthcare. 'We've heard heartbreaking stories of First Nations patients being ignored, misdiagnosed, or dismissed in ways that would simply not happen to other Australians,' she said. 'This case is about ensuring those voices are heard, and change is made. 'No one should be treated differently in our hospitals because of their race.' Litigators JGA Saddler filed the class action on Tuesday on behalf of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were subject to discriminatory conduct by the North West and Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Services between 1996 and 2024. Credit: Supplied Ms Jancauskas said the claim alleged the State of Queensland failed to take sufficient action to address concerns about systematic racism in hospitals and health services over 30 years despite investigations and inquiries identifying these issues. She said there were examples of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who had sought medical care from public hospitals and health services in the North West and Cape regions but been repeatedly dismissed, which the case alleges led to children dying. 'This has sadly been the experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have sought medical care from public hospitals and health services in these regions,' she said. 'This case goes beyond individual harm. It challenges a pattern of institutional racism that continues to impact the health and lives of First Nations people across Queensland.' The class action alleges the state withheld or denied First Nations people adequate treatment, dismissed patients' concerns and delivered substandard medical care to them breaching the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). Credit: Supplied Litigation Lending Services chief executive officer Susan Wynne said they were funding the class action to seek justice on behalf of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were failed by Queensland Health. 'Every Australian has the right to access healthcare free from discrimination,' she said. 'For too long, complaints of racism in the public health system have been minimised or ignored.' Queensland Health declined to comment on the case, as the matter is before the courts. Health Minister Tim Nicholls has been contacted for comment.
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders launch a class action against Queensland Health over racial discrimination
Queensland Health have been hit with a class action over allegations of racial discrimination that claim Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people received inadequate healthcare spanning three decades. The class action alleges First Nations people were withheld or denied adequate treatment, had their concerns dismissed and received substandard medical care, which was unlawful and breached the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). Litigators JGA Saddler filed the class action on Tuesday on behalf of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were subject to discriminatory conduct by the North West and Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Services between 1996 and 2024. JGA Saddler director Rebecca Jancauskas said the state needed to be held accountable for systematic practices that resulted in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who interacted with certain healthcare providers in Queensland receiving a lower standard of healthcare. 'We've heard heartbreaking stories of First Nations patients being ignored, misdiagnosed, or dismissed in ways that would simply not happen to other Australians,' she said. 'This case is about ensuring those voices are heard, and change is made. 'No one should be treated differently in our hospitals because of their race.' Ms Jancauskas said the claim alleged the State of Queensland failed to take sufficient action to address concerns about systematic racism in hospitals and health services over 30 years despite investigations and inquiries identifying these issues. She said there were examples of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who had sought medical care from public hospitals and health services in the North West and Cape regions but been repeatedly dismissed, which the case alleges led to children dying. 'This has sadly been the experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have sought medical care from public hospitals and health services in these regions,' she said. 'This case goes beyond individual harm. It challenges a pattern of institutional racism that continues to impact the health and lives of First Nations people across Queensland.' Litigation Lending Services chief executive officer Susan Wynne said they were funding the class action to seek justice on behalf of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were failed by Queensland Health. 'Every Australian has the right to access healthcare free from discrimination,' she said. 'For too long, complaints of racism in the public health system have been minimised or ignored.' Queensland Health declined to comment on the case, as the matter is before the courts. Health Minister Tim Nicholls has been contacted for comment.
