Michael Danby: ECAJ says he will leave “a great void”
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has added its voice to this who will miss Michael Danby’s presence in federal parliament.
Michael Danby with former ECAJ president Robert Goot and Peter Wertheim
Co-CEO Peter Wertheim said: “Michael Danby’s decision to retire from Federal politics is sad news for his many friends and supporters. Since becoming the member for the Federal seat of Melbourne Ports in 1998, Michael has proven to be a politician with genuine convictions who places principle above all other considerations, even the advancement of his own career.
On parliamentary committees and in the media, he has been a fearless champion for the arts and for many human rights causes, most especially those which have not been fashionable or popular, or which have attracted the ire of powerful interests.
In his support for the restoration of Tibet’s statehood and sovereignty, Michael Danby did not hesitate to meet with the Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama, despite the disapproval of certain politicians and bureaucrats who were frightened of offending the Chinese government.
Nor did Michael ever take a backward step in his passionate advocacy for Israel and the Jewish people, calling out prejudice and falsehoods emanating from any quarter, especially amongAustralia’s purported intellectual leaders. For this Michael won the respect and affection not only of the Jewish community but of fair-minded Australians of all backgrounds.
Australia needs more conviction politicians of wit and intelligence like Michael. His departure from the Federal parliament will leave a great void.”
There’s a very good piece on the Aleph Melbourne web site in response to the ECAJ’s statement on Michael Danby, authored by my husband, Gregory Storer.
Nearly 3 years ago, after the end of a public meeting, where there were some Community leaders speaking, a few members of the audience, hung around to hear Michael Danby, “chew the fat”, I learnt and was educated about the “man made” islands that China was building in the South China sea.
I had never, ever even heard of the Sprately Islands.
I could not believe my ears and thought we were talking fiction or the plot of some new sci-fi or Hollywood film.
In less than 15 minutes, I learnt more about politics, especially in our Australasian region than one year of Politics 101!
I learnt more about the duplicitous behaviour of former Foreign Affairs Minister and NSW Premier, Bob Carr, in these few minutes, Bob Carr’s allegiance to and payments from China. I was awakened to Bob Carr’s change of sympathies from one who was once a “friend of Israel” to a vociferous “enemy”.
Michael’s erudite knowledge of world affairs, local and international politics, human rights, wide-range reading and ability to organize and coordinate skilled and intelligent, like-minded people to work together is unison, is breathtaking.
The Anti-Semites and opponents like to call Michael Danby, the current Member for the soon to be defunct, Melbourne Ports, the “Member for Israel”.
Sadly, we will have lost this courageous and brave defender of Israel and a person who is smart and fearless enough to take on those who choose to blur their thinly veiled Anti-Semitism with the more “PC” Anti-Zionism or Anti-Israel views.
This will leave a ginormous void!