There has been much made recently about Jillian Segal's controversial recommendations on antisemitism.

For those who don't know she is Australia’s Antisemitism Envoy.

She has for example in a report of 49 proposed changes suggested stripping universities, broadcasters like the ABC and arts groups of funding for failing to combat rising hate speech and violence against Jews in Australia.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/plan-to-combat-antisemitism-handed-to-anthony-albanese/awu1ocoow

Figures show that from October 2023 to September 2024 antisemitic incidents surged in Australia by 316 per cent, with over 2000 cases reported including threats, assaults, vandalism and intimidation.

However some have said the changes go to far and are very Donald Trump in nature.

Liberal MP James Stevens for example says Australia shouldn't legislate a definition of antisemitism or impose penalties for people breaching it and another group Labor Friends for Palestine has voiced concerns over implementation of some of the recommendations saying they are an overreach.

My view is that antisemitism attacks the foundation of places like Australia and such activity should be condemned at every level. I believe we must take affirmative action to see it disappear - including doing things some won't like - very much for the better good.

Is dealing with Jew-hatred really “controversial” ?

The sickness affects everyone, not just Jews. It is an attack “on fundamental principles of the rule of law that underpin Australian democracy”.

(https://ruleoflawaustralia.com.au/commentary/anti-semitism-just-part-of-much-wider-sickness/)

If people cannot be protected just because they are Jews, no Australians can be protected.

“We all have a stake in Segal's plan”. (See above)

Most people won't be aware that under the Australian ‘Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Act in NSW’ contains an exemption for hate speech based on religious belief.

A Rule of Law Institute survey has revealed that only 47% of respondents think that our legal system treats everyone equally.

After the latest Jew-hate rampage (now regular events), only 40% believed that all people were treated equally regardless of their backgrounds.

The Institute believes that Jew-hatred is “an attack on the principles of the rule of law and is therefore an attack that threatens all of us”.

The vacuum created by a political class unwilling to protect the rights of everyone is being filled by extremists among immigrants and locals alike.

Ms. Segal's plans go “beyond protecting a single community” to upholding values of equity and mutual respect”.

The “some” who might, or might not, (no evidence) have said the changes go too far, and drag Donald Trump into it, have to be regarded as Trump Syndrome boofheads, and most likely anti-Jews themselves.

Australia is already regarded globally as a country not safe for Jews. If something is not done, pretty damn quickly, we will be catching up with Britain, where in the last couple of days, the government has been shocked by a report showing that Jew-hatred has become ‘normalised’ in that country.

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/nsw-man-charged-over-melbourne-synagogue-arson-attack/ezra2p27p
Why doesn't Tony Burke send these troublemakers to Palestine ? He calls for "something" to be done, well, he's in the driver's seat for that !

Anti-Semitism (like pornography) is one of those things that grow when you talk about it.
Praise it or condemn it, it doesn't matter: either way interest is aroused and the effect is the same.
It is like a wound you keep scratching: stay quiet, do nothing and it will go by itself.
But politicians LIKE to talk about it.

No fair minded person condones attacks on people, places of worship, child care centres, schools, businesses, homes, cars or MP's officers etc. Those found guilty of such offences deserve punishment under the law. There does seem to be a trend whereby genuine protest, and opposition to what is taking place in Gaza is now be labeled as antisemitism, that is also a dangerous trend in an open democracy like Australia.

The average Ocker/Ockerina is interested only in getting a skin full of grog, free stuff from the government, and being entertained by others playing silly games.

This year's election, with lots of seats for Albanese despite his obvious unsuitability for the job, indicates a similarity with 1930s Germans.

The Germans were happy with the authoritarian Kaiser. The Weimar Republic really miffed them, because it meant that they were expected to take part in politics: actually choose a party.

Their attitude to politics made it easy for them. As long as the National Socialists took responsibility, made the decisions, did their thinking for them, all was good.

Australians seem to have done the same thing with the Albanese Socialists.

It's a worry, how now, the same anti- Semitism, hatred of Jews, that arose in Germany, has been added to all the other indicators that we are going down the 1930s path.

https://youtu.be/Q9ZWyvK5Fqc?si=7YzGSs9qjKYUvBli

Netanyahu reminds us that it wasn't Hitler’s idea to exterminate Jews in the first place.

I think 'antisemitic' is just a made up racist word.
And I don't mean that it infers racism towards Jews.
I think it infers racism by Jews, in that they enjoy a non-criticism privilege than no-one else does, and that makes it racist.

When it comes to fair and reasonable criticism, I don't they should enjoy any rights above anyone else.

Is the truth antisemitic?

Proof - Much worse than the NAZI's themselves
http://youtu.be/BGL8ZCd9Tao

Is satire antisemitic?

The chosen ones are fleeing the 'promised land' and go home all over the world!
http://youtu.be/KcW3eOaivLA

ttbn, has a Nazi apologist and war criminal in Netanyahu trying to shift the blame for the extermination of 6 million people onto the Palestinians, not all were Jews there were others. While the majority of victims of the Holocaust were Jews, many other minority groups were targeted as well. Jehovah’s Witnesses, Romanies (Gypsies), homosexuals, Slaves, people with disabilities, and others were imprisoned in concentration camps and killed during the Holocaust.

No matter how ttbn twists it, the Zionist regime is responsible for the murder of 58,000 people in Gaza, including 18,000 children.

"No matter how ttbn twists it, the Zionist regime is responsible for the murder of 58,000 people in Gaza, including 18,000 children."

This low number only indicates 'recovered' doesn't include bodies under the rubble of apartment buildings.
And I've seen dead Palestinians being eaten by cats and dogs.
Other figures state 400K though that number is disputed.

I agree AC,

58,000 is the actual number of recovered dead, there is most certainly thousands more unaccounted for. The Nazi's Warsaw Ghetto housed 460,000 at it height. The Zionist Nazi's are planning an even bigger Gaza Ghetto to accommodate 600,000 Palestinians, eventually the entire Palestinian population will be confined there, as many as 2 million, men, women and children. The plan is for relocation and/or extermination. All this was approved by the convicted criminal Trump last week at a meeting in Washington with the accused war criminal Netanyahu.

Armchair Critic,
Nothing antisemitic specifically, it's a general hatred of anything not Islamic. But the tide has already begun to turn against it World-wide. Sadly, there'll be much misery & suffering before the idiocy can be sorted.

As a principle I support free speech; even, as George Brandis once (in)famously said, the “right to be a bigot”.

But to its credit, most of the recommendations in the Segal report are about education and information, not coercion or limiting free speech. It tries to address the causes of antisemitism rather than penalising its perpetrators. For example, it highlights the lack of historical knowledge of antisemitism and the Holocaust that is linked to the fact younger people are more likely than older ones to be antisemitic.

Its most controversial recommendations are for public funds to be cut from arts organisations, media and universities that foster or fail to combat racism. That will have to be handled very carefully, but in principle is a good think and distinguishes between things that should be prohibited, and things that should not be seen to be officially sanctioned and taxpayer funded. Artist Khaled Sabsabi has the right to produce works that mock 9/11 and glorify Islamofascist terrorists; but I don’t want him celebrated by Creative Australia with a junket to the Venice Biennale at taxpayers’ expense.

http://www.aseca.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-07/2025-aseca-plan.pdf

Antisemitism differs from run-of-the-mill racial and religious prejudice in the complex relationship between legitimate criticism of the policies and actions of the Israeli Government, and hostility to Jews and Israelis in general. The Australian government has adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism, whose guidelines address this issue, and the Segal report recommends this be used across all levels of government and public institutions to inform their practical understanding of antisemitism. Many Governments and public bodies around the world use this definition, though it is unpopular with some on the far left who argue – wrongly in my view - that it is used to misrepresent legitimate criticism of Israel as antisemitic.

http://holocaustremembrance.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IHRA-non-legally-binding-working-definition-of-antisemitism-1.pdf

Hi Rhian

"Its most controversial recommendations are for public funds to be cut from arts organisations, media and universities that foster or fail to combat racism."

I can only speak of my days at Sydney Uni, where assorts of radicals and weirdos were rampant. The daily gatherings on the lawn of raving crackpots often spruiking utter nonsense to their legions of disciples. For me it was all part of free speech, and a richness of life, even if it was often crazy speak. How could the University control the ranter and the ravers, I don't know.

BTW I'm sure many of those crazies went on to become doctors and lawyers and such, dressing in suits and reading the Sydney Morning Herald, before departing for the office as part of their very conservative life.

"has a Nazi apologist and war criminal in Netanyahu trying to shift the blame for the extermination of 6 million people onto the Palestinians, not all were Jews there were others. "

In my constant efforts to bring a little historic accuracy to the rubbish Paul writes.... its estimated there were around 11 million victims of the Holocaust of which 6 million were Jews. The rest were Romani, the disabled, dissidents but primarily Russian POWs. So yes, 6 million Jews were exterminated.

What Netanyahu says is partly right. Hitler didn't originally intend to kill the Jews. He wanted them out of Europe and his main idea was to move them to Madagascar which he hoped to obtain as part of a peace deal with Britain. It was only after the chances of such a deal fell through that he and his subordinates moved to plan B - mass murder.

I've explained this to Paul in the past.

____________________________________________________________________

"Its most controversial recommendations are for public funds to be cut from arts organisations, media and universities that foster or fail to combat racism."

Public funds should be cut from arts organisations and the media for all sorts of reasons. But fostering racism isn't one of them.

____________________________________________________________________

Censorship is never right, always wrong. All it does is drive the unwanted views underground where they can fester and metastasize. Keep them in the open where they can be challenged and exposed. The best disinfectant is sunlight.

The massive rise in antisemitism is an indictment on multiculturalism. Unwanted prejudices from the old world are bought to Australia and, rather than they assimilating to our views, a portion of us assimilate to their racist views. Additionally, because the new arrivals form a voting clique, some politicians feel the need to pander to that clique meaning that the establishment cannot form a united front against thinking that is ripping the nation asunder

Trumpster,

I never said the total number of people exterminated by the Nazi's in concentration camps was 6 million. Most reference 6 million as the number of Jews exterminated by the Nazi's, although the actual figure is unknown. How many others were murdered, estimates vary widely. There is this claim by the war criminal Netanyahu that the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Mohammed Amin al-Husseini was complicit in the murder of millions of Jews. No one other than the Trumpster himself who regularly channels his folk hero Hitler can give a definitive answer to this did he, or did he not question. Despite the answer, there is no excuse for the Zionist murder and genocide of innocent Palestinians in Gaze. Although I'm sure the Trumpster sees it differently.

Hi Paul

I have absolutely no objection to student protests against Israel on campus, so long as they comply with the law and the university’s rules e.g. on not disrupting the everyday business of education. But there is widespread evidence of threats and intimidation directed at Jewish students and staff, discrimination against Jewish academics, and active support for terrorism on campuses. These are usually against the university’s policies, but in many cases universities have failed to implement those policies – most notably your alma mater.

http://www.sydney.edu.au/content/dam/corporate/documents/news-opinions/2024/external-review-bruce-hodgkinson-report-29112024.pdf

" Netanyahu trying to shift the blame for the extermination of 6 million people"

then

"I never said the total number of people exterminated by the Nazi's in concentration camps was 6 million."

?!?!?!

"there is no excuse for the Zionist murder and genocide of innocent Palestinians in Gaze. Although I'm sure the Trumpster sees it differently."

Yep. There is no genocide and they aren't innocent

Trumpster,

Since when have children as young as a few days old been "terrorists" and therefore guilty and deserving of extermination? According to you; "they aren't innocent", therefore they must be guilty, 18,000 murdered Palestinian children's bodies recovered so far.

Are you of the opinion that the accused war criminal Netanyahu is saying Mohammed Amin al-Husseini didn't just influence Hitler to exterminate 6 million Jews (the figure usually quoted) but also influenced Hitler to murder millions on non-Jews as well, possibly another 5 million. You claim to know so much about Hitlers thinking. Next time you are channeling the Fuhrer, could you ask him the question. BTW, with all your inner knowledge of Hitlers thinking, were you part of the Fuhrer's inner circle at some stage? Are you the reincarnation of Hermann Goering by any chance?

Paul,

The Palestinian people aren't innocent. They caused this war and continue to fight it. Children die in war. Its in their hands to stop that.

"You claim to know so much about Hitlers thinking. "

No. I just read what he wrote, what was written about his plans by his subordinates, and what official German government policy was at the time. Reading about the facts....you should try it sometime.

Trumpster,

The crime of collective guilt. According to you, "The Palestinian people aren't innocent. They caused this war and continue to fight it" Even the babies! Amazing, what perverted thinking is that. Hitler believed the Jews were responsible for Germany's defeat in WWI, somewhere in the order of 3 million Germans died as a result of that war. So, do you believe as Hitler did, the Jews were responsible for the needless loss of all those Germans, and as a collective punishment of the guilty he exterminated 6 million. That seems to fit with your perverted way of thinking.

Most of your claimed "knowledge" is BS you make up, or get by a quick search on Google. Several posters on this forum have run rings around you in a number of discussions, showing you to be somewhat clueless, just like your folk hero Donald.

BTW, you never could explain how a 145% tariff on Chinese goods was going to benefit America, or American tariffs on Australian good, would benefit Australia.

The Albanese government insists that it cannot consider recommendations by the person they appointed to report on anti-Semitism until they receive a report on Islamophobia.

This is absurd and shameful, described as a “fig leaf” to cover Albanese's intent to continue doing nothing about attacks on Jews. He will be scratching to find any report of attacks on Muslims by Jews or anyone else.

There’s no comparable epidemic of attacks on Islamic schools, mosques, or businesses in Australia.

Jillian Segal should probably divorce herself from the charade that tricks people into thinking that the Albanese government cares about Jews.

Wow Paul. Some people makes leaps of logic. You make monumental strides of illogic.

I didn't talk of collective guilt. If you can't address my actual points clearly you feel the need to create out of thin air made-up views and then tell me they're wrong.

Let's try this. We'll pick your beloved Russians. When they invaded Germany in 1945 they killed around 1 million people and committed around 2 million rapes. Were all those people giulty or would you call it a war crime? Some of those killed were kids.

The thing is its war. The Paelstinians caused the war. The Palestinians are therefore responsible for the war and the deaths. If they wanted to stop the war and the deaths they could do so tomorrow. But you never acknowledge that. You just demand that the side you hate be castigated for fighting a war that was forced on them.

"Several posters on this forum have run rings around you in a number of discussions"

Well not you obviously but I look forward to you giving some examples. People just saying things you want to be true isn't the same thing as winning arguments. But I take it from you response that the idea of reading to get the facts is off the table as far as you're concerned.

"BTW, you never could explain how a 145% tariff on Chinese goods was going to benefit America, or American tariffs on Australian good, would benefit Australia."

There never were 145% tariffs. That was just a threat to make the Chinese sit up and take notice. It worked. And who said the US tariffs would help Australia? It seems you've missed quite a bit here.

Trumpster,

When they (Russians) invaded Germany in 1945 they killed around 1 million people and committed around 2 million rapes. Were all those people giulty or would you call it a war crime? They were defiantly not giulty, no it was a war crime, all wars are a crime in my opinion. Applying your logic; The Germans were responsible for the war, so would say the Russians, and therefore the deaths, including their own."

From you, The Palestinians are therefore responsible for the war and the deaths. does that include a day old child?

AC and JD, both have run rings around YOU. Modesty, so I'll exclude myself.

For even you the stupidly of Donald must astound you. Maybe not, you are about as bright as he is. IQ of both TLA.