London Declaration – NSW Labor ready to sign and Federal Coalition in 100%
The NSW Opposition Leader’s Chief of Staff has announced more politicians will sign the London Declaration condemning antisemitism next week.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard signs the London Declaration watched by (standing L-R Yair Miller, Jill Segal, Mark Dreyfus, Robert Goot. Seated Dr Danny Lamm and Peter Wertheim Photo: Henry Benjamin
All of the 105 Coalition parliamentarians, MPs as well as Senators, have now signed the London Declaration on Combating Antisemitism.
“This is a fantastic result given the importance of the subject, and the declaration itself,” Liberal MP Josh Frydenberg said in a statement on Friday.
“The Declaration shines a light on the resurgence of anti‐Semitism worldwide while outlining a series of practical measures to counter this scourge. No other country in the world has seen every parliamentary member of a leading political party sign the Declaration.”
Frydenberg was spurred on Tuesday to enlist his fellow party members to sign the declaration following Liberal front-bencher Christopher Pyne’s lead On May 10.
“Only with the efforts of free‐thinking, community‐minded individuals, and governments representing all sides of the political divide, can we take the united action necessary to build tolerance and understanding in our society,” Frydenberg said.
The list comprises 105 Coalition members comprising 71 MPs and 34 Senators.
“Each member represents diverse electorates from every Australian state and territory, and together, they have clearly shown that they are united in their steadfast opposition to anti‐Semitism,” Frydenberg added.
“Conscious that some of the darkest chapters in our history have involved anti‐Semitism, and in the knowledge that eternal vigilance is the price of freedom, the Coalition is committed to promoting harmony, respect and good citizenship in our society.”
He said the fact that all his colleagues have “banded together” to support this cause is “an emphatic statement to the world,” adding that he hoped politicians “from Europe to Asia, and Africa to the Americas, now follow the Coalition’s lead in signing the Declaration.”
The Coalition’s mass signing follows Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who became the first Australian lawmaker to sign it last month. Federal Attorney General Mark Dreyfus said on Wednesday: “The Prime Minister represented our nation, our government and the Parliamentary Labor Party when she signed the London Declaration combating antisemitism.”
Michael Danby added: “I am pleased that the Prime Minister’s action on the London Declaration has prompted the Coalition to join us in signing this important document.”
The rest of the Federal Labor Party MPs are expected to sign next week.
MPs from state parliaments are also in the process of arranging signing ceremonies.
“We will have more Australian members of Parliament than from any other country,” the ECAJ’s Peter Wertheim said. “Maybe it will spur some US congressmen and Canadian MPs who have not yet signed to do so.”
Alan Mascarenhas has advised community leaders that “we would be pleased to formally sign the Declaration”. Mascerenhas is Chief of Staff to NSW Labor opposition chief John Robertson.
The signing will take place in the NSW Parliament on Wednesday next week. Numbers of those prepared to sign are not yet known.
