Stop The Hate Mate campaign launched at NSW Parliament House
The Stop The Hate Mate campaign was launched at New South Wales Parliament House, marking a united effort to combat hate speech and foster harmony within the community.
Ernie Friedlander addresses the campaign launch
Spearheaded by Moving Forward Together, a non-profit chaired by Ernie Friedlander, the initiative comes amid growing concerns over rising hate speech and social divisions in Australia.
Friedlander, a Holocaust survivor, delivered a heartfelt address at the event, sharing his personal journey and the values underpinning the campaign. “Having survived the Holocaust, I learned never to discriminate, stereotype, or hate. We must see people as individuals regardless of their colour, race, religion, or gender,” he said. Friedlander described how hate speech and extremism threaten democracy, law, and social harmony, urging collective action to address the issue. “Hate should have no place in Australia, a country I love. We must do everything in our power to ensure a safer future for all of us,” he added.
The campaign, Friedlander explained, aims to counteract hate by promoting inclusiveness, care, and understanding, especially among young Australians. He called on attendees to support the initiative and become “ambassadors of harmony,” emphasizing the importance of education and advocacy in building a more tolerant society.
Deputy Premier Prue Car spoke passionately about the urgency of the campaign, condemning the recent antisemitic vandalism in Woollahra, where a car was torched and hate-filled slogans defaced properties and cars. “Those actions were hateful but senseless,” she said. “Whatever those thugs thought they were going to achieve, hate solves absolutely nothing. It can only destroy and create more bitterness.” Car commended Friedlander for transforming pain into productive advocacy, describing him as “one of Australia’s better angels.”
Car also reflected on the ideals of inclusivity and refuge that Australia represents, noting that such values require ongoing commitment and defence. “It’s on all of us, especially those in government, to promote peace in our community, stamp out racism, and ensure the safety of every citizen,” she said.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman echoed these sentiments, highlighting the detrimental impact of hate speech on society. “Hate speech doesn’t just attack individuals; it tears at the fabric of our society,” Speakman said. He noted the troubling rise in hate speech across schools, universities, and social media platforms, describing it as a “corrosive force that thrives in silence.” He praised the campaign for empowering young Australians with tools to confront hate and foster understanding, calling it “a vital pillar for the society we all aspire to build.”
Paul Blanket, an executive with Moving Forward Together, outlined the campaign’s innovative strategy to combat hate speech. Its four-phase plan includes workshops, a “sticker campaign” for students to reclaim their spaces from hate, and digital tools designed to engage youth on their terms. Blanket emphasized the importance of making the campaign personal and relevant to young people. “Our approach is about addressing the spaces where hate speech thrives—be it in schools, universities, or online,” he said.
Blanket also shared troubling findings from recent research, which show a sharp rise in social divisions and the pervasive targeting of young Australians through online hate campaigns. Platforms like TikTok, he noted, amplify harmful content using sophisticated algorithms, exposing children to an average of 50 hateful messages daily. “Hate speech doesn’t stop when young people leave school. It follows them home, invading their personal worlds,” he said, calling for decisive action to protect Australia’s youth. “It’s up to each of us to stop hate speech in its tracks,” he said.
Freya Leach, a student at Sydney University shared her experiences with escalating antisemitism and hate on university campuses. She recounted attending a Sydney University meeting in August, where 800 students refused to condemn Hamas or the atrocities of October 7. “I stood up and reminded the packed auditorium of what exactly happened… the worst massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust,” she said, but her words were drowned out by jeers. Leach highlighted how hate, left unchecked, escalates, creating a hostile environment for Jewish students, who face harassment for expressing their identity while institutions largely remain silent.
“Silence in the face of hate is complicity,” she declared, calling out universities and leaders for failing to address the issue. She warned that unchecked hate erodes societal unity and fosters division. “This is not about politics,” she said. “When discourse descends into dehumanization and harassment, we cross a dangerous line.” Urging action, Leach stressed the need to uphold Australia’s values of unity and freedom. “Unity is fragile, and freedom must be defended. We must act now to stop the hate.”
Dylan Parker, Mayor of Randwick, highlighted the shared commitment to combating hate across diverse communities. Speaking as the leader of a vibrant yet affected community, Parker emphasized the necessity of addressing hate proactively. “Speech driven by hatred eats at the fabric of our community and the core of who we are as human beings,” he said. Reflecting on messages from other speakers, he stressed the importance of meeting people “where they are” and bridging divides within diverse ecosystems. Parker pledged continued collaboration with organizations tackling hate and expressed gratitude for the initiative, stating, “If we don’t recognize the problem, we cannot even begin to mark out solutions.”
Closing the event, Janine Zimbler, Executive Officer of B’nai B’rith, expressed pride in the collaboration between her organization and Moving Forward Together. Highlighting the global commitment of B’nai B’rith to social justice, Zimbler commended the campaign’s unified and inclusive strategy. “It really is a call to arms that we can’t stand by. We all need to participate,” she said, invoking a quote: “No man can whistle a symphony. It really takes a whole orchestra to play it.” Zimbler emphasized the need for collective action and resources to combat hate, while expressing gratitude for the powerful speeches and support from leaders and the community.
The Stop The Hate Mate campaign has received bipartisan support, uniting government, educators, and community leaders to address the root causes of hate speech. Friedlander closed the event with a call to action: “Together, we can stop the spread of hate and build a safer, more harmonious Australia.”
