One Nation clash
NSW Labor front bencher and Deputy Chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel, Walt Secord has expressed “deep disappointment” in what he perceived was NSW Premier Mike Baird’s “cozying up” to One Nation’s Pauline Hanson and her supporters, in the wake of the Federal election result.
Mr Secord condemned comments by One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson where she said parts of Australia such as the Sydney suburb of Hurstville was “swamped by Asians” .
However, Premier Mike Baird said that One Nation Pauline Hanson was entitled to her views.
Walt Secord
Mr Baird told Sydney reporters: “She has a right to make the comments she does … I don’t have to agree with them, and I imagine most of them I won’t agree with.” (ABC Radio – Sydney. 3pm. July 5, 2016)
Mr Secord said he was profoundly disappointed that Mr Baird had failed to outright condemn Pauline Hanson and reject her comments.
One Nation had elected a Senator in Queensland and was likely to elect an additional Senator in NSW and Western Australia.
Mr Secord said: “I am very disappointed by Mr Baird, trying to walk both sides of the street in NSW. We expect the Premier – regardless of whether they are Liberal, Labor, or National Party – to totally repudiate Pauline Hanson and her divisive views.”
Premier Mike Baird studies the program Photo: Henry Benjamin/J-Wire
“Premier Mike Baird’s comments remind me of Federal Attorney General, George Brandis who said in March 2014 that people had ‘a right to be bigots’ .”
“In NSW, Labor believes that you do not have a right to be a bigot.”
“The community deserves a Premier who stands up to the divisive views of One Nation.”
But Premier Mike Baird told J-Wire: “We have to respect that Ms Hanson was elected. She is allowed to express her views, however, I disagree with most of them and will vigorously put forward contrary views.”
We live in a multicultural society that is the envy of the world and there is no tolerance for racial vilification and hatred within our community.”
I would encourage Mr Secord to spend less time looking for political points and more time promoting social cohesion.”
Pauline Hanson
In the meantime The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council’s Dr Colin Rubenstein and Jeremy Jones have issued statement declaring Pauline Hanson “has declared war on tolerance”.
“Racism and bigotry is always unacceptable, and it is additionally repugnant when espoused by an elected member of parliament,” Jones the Director of International and of Community Affairs of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council said today.
“Even before votes have been tallied, Pauline Hanson has, in effect, declared war on Australian tolerance, community harmony and social cohesion, and her bigotry should be exposed for the evil which it is,” Jones, who was awarded the Australian Human Rights Medal in 2007, added.
Jeremy Jones
“When Executive Council of Australian Jewry President, I successfully complained about One Nation’s Queensland Branch’s breach of anti-racism law, but even if One Nation activists had never promoted antisemitism we would be just as concerned with its return to political life”, he concluded.
Dr Colin Rubenstein
Dr Colin Rubenstein, AIJAC’s Executive Director, added: “One Nation’s contemptible vilification and demonisation of Islam, Muslims, Asians and other minority groups must be repudiated. While One Nation has destructively exploited the apprehension of a number of Australians, the incoming government and parliament must be resolute in confronting racism in all its guises. It must strengthen community harmony and security and demonstrate an understanding of the real challenges our society confronts and develop an ability to address and overcome them.”
“It is not surprising, for example, that Pauline Hanson opposes protection of Australians from vilification and harassment, and her re-emergence in national politics yet again reinforces the value of these protections,” he said.
“We must not allow her to once again open the floodgates of hatred and empower malicious, racist elements, nor should she be allowed to masquerade as a voice of ordinary, civic-minded, decent Australians,” he concluded.
The rise of Pauline Hanson has been attributed to a growing backlash against a “democretic deficit” in all Western societies as human rights are being distorted to favour minorities and silence the mainstream. (Chris Merritt – the Australian July 12).
AIJAC’s typical leftist we-know-what’s-best-for-you arrogance, is a contributer to the rise of Pauline Hanson and One Nation.
Thank you AIJAC. To be clear, that thank you is not sarcasm. It is sincere.
The leftist AIJAC speaks again and exactly like their counterparts.
Post what they don’t like to hear on their FB page and they delete it.
WHAT HYPOCRITES.
Post what they FEAR to hear on their FB page and they delete it.
So universal of the left.
Why make enemies out of people that have no issues with Jews and support Israel.
I don’t understand what is the point just because Pauline Hanosn has a [ justifiable ] issue with Islam and not with Jews so some holier than thou Jewish representatives think it is their job to step in and advocate for Muslims ? I think 600,000 Muslims trumps 120,000 Jews they can look after themselves, and they are doing a pretty good job [ Western Sydney ?] Am I missing something. Have these holier than thou Jews issued statements for instance condemning the Greens for their racism against Jews and obsession with Israel or have these holier than thou Jews released statements condemning Muslim hate mongering , Judeaophobic clerics such as Turnbull’s diner guest, What are they on about going out of their way to make enemies , don’t we have enough. Hanson has no problems with Jews in fact this is what she said on our program in November , when we invited her on because we wanted to know her views on Jews .
Pauline Hanson , Nothing Left Radio Program 17/11/2015
“I didn’t know the Jewish Community needed security, bomb-proof walls etc – this should not be happening in Australia. You live your lives in harmony, you are of no concern to other Australians, I have no problem with that…”
“I have never spoken out against the Jewish Community who live in peace and harmony.”
Please Jewish communal leaders /representatives choose your fight , use your limited time and resources to go after those that defame us , Incite hatred and violence towards us and those that threaten our security . We are not erecting bomb proof walls and hiring armed guards because of Pauline Hanson , if you are not sure who we are under threat from give me a call I’ll tell you>
More than 1 in 12 Queensland voters don’t think so as they voter for her. Pauline has over one quote so far as Senator elect Hanson.
It never ceases to confound me how seemingly intelligent people just don’t get the fact that Islam is NOT a race. Calling someone a racist for being against Islam just shows your own stupidity. Look racism up the dictionary. Islam is a religion/political system. It’s not a race of people!
I agree Eric and Jewish is not a race either, it is a religion.
Semites can also be people of a number of religions that are based in West Asia (Middle East).
Hi Adrian,
With Jews, it’s a bit murky and I perhaps understand why the Jewish protectors don’t see a difference. Strictly being Jewish is to be of the Tribe of Yehudah, one of the greater tribes of Israel. (From which we get Judaism). Historically and including the spiritual, the Hebrew and the worship of the God of Israel is essentially the same thing. By definition, to be Hebrew is to be in covenant with the God of Israel. A Hebrew is a Semite, but not all Semites are Hebrews. Not being Jewish (or a Hebrew), I won’t comment anymore as terms and meanings have changed with time and I wouldn’t want to muddy the waters anymore. However, I do perceive what to me is a blind spot by the Jewish community over Islam because of the lack of distinction in their minds between race and religion. To me, Islam is probably Israels greatest threat, let alone the rest of us.
The Muslim community must be very grateful to the jewish community and in particular to AIJAC for standing up for their [ Muslim ] human and civil rights attacking Hanson on record for saying she respects Jews.
. After all we all know how tirelessly, relentlessly and consistently the Islamic Council of Victoria and other Islamic groups in Lakemba and Broadmeadows constantly come out with public statements condemning and distancing from the main stream community the conga line of hate mongering , anti Semitic Homophobic clerics and the incitement of hatred towards jews anti- semitism that goes on behind closed Mosque Doors ..
Is it really devisive to stand against devision and intolerance?