SA parliamentarians join fight against antisemitism
A private members motion urging South Australian parliamentarians to join a global movement against antisemitism has been passed unanimously.
The motion urges State members of parliament to sign the London Declaration on Combating Antisemitism, a document that boasts MPs across the globe as signatories.
Norman Schueler pic: Henry Benjamin
President of the Jewish Community Council of South Australia Mr Norman Schueler believes that our society must remain vigilant against hate crimes.
“We must never think that the crimes committed against the Jewish people in other states will not be visited upon our shores.” Mr Schueler said.
“We need the collective will of our elected leaders to stand up to antisemitism and to defend the basic rights of the Jewish people.”
The motion is co-sponsored by MPs from both the Liberal and Labor party.
“I’m very pleased that this bipartisan initiative gained the support of the House. It is critical that MPs and other community leaders use their positions to progress the fight against antisemitism and discrimination in all forms,” noted Liberal co-sponsor, John Gardner said.
As the Labor co-sponsor for the motion, Leesa Vlahos believes that Australia is not immune to vicious hate crimes.
“Only last October in Bondi, a Jewish family walking home from a Sabbath dinner were assaulted by eight young males,” Mrs Vlahos said.
“Anti-Semitism did not end at the conclusion of the Second World War. It is as real today – as it was 70 years ago, in the dreadful gas chambers of the Holocaust.”
A signing ceremony will be held in the South Australian Parliament in coming weeks.
Read the full Hansard report here..
Uncorrected Hansard – Private Members – London Declaration
