Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, , 8:52:23 to 8:56:06
Ms. Jillian Segal, the Special Envoy to combat Antisemitism, provides an opening statement addressing the rise of antisemitism in Australia and the need for a long-term educational strategy.
Topics: Antisemitism, Social cohesion
Speakers: Jillian Segal, Senator Jana Stewart
Senator, I'll stay at the table in case there are departmental issues that I can help.
Yeah, thank you, Secretary. Appreciate it. Excellent. All right, I now call uh special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, Ms. Segal. Thank you for joining us this evening. Do you have an opening statement you would like to give to the committee? Are you on mute, Miss Eagle?
Can you hear me now?
We can, thank you.
Thank you. And thank you so much. I appreciate the opportunity to come to you and speak to you remotely this evening. Um I really do appreciate also you accommodating the time. Very grateful. Um I I do have an opening statement. I'm not sure if you have it in front of you, but um if I could read it, that would be great. I did send it in a little earlier.
Okay, I think we're still uh looking for the opening statement, but uh please please proceed in in reading it out.
Thank you. So last week the nation was shaken by the tragic attack on Helen Haines, which is now a matter for the police and the courts. But as has been consistently pointed out, it is another example of the system of symptom, I should say, of our fraying social fabric. The Governor General reflected the views of I'm sure all of us. This is a moment for us to pause and choose to be better. And many of our leaders across the political spectrum have called for the temperature of dialogue to be turned out. Obviously, the temperature has been rising for some time. ASIO told a parliamentary inquiry only last week that the climate has become more permissive of violence. Clearly, we have seen this with anti-Semitism. Highlighted on the 14th of December last year when 15 innocent people were murdered and 40 wounded at a Hanukkah celebration of Bondi in our nation's worst terrorist Anti-Semitism and hatred do not begin with violence. They start with words and grow when that hatred is executed. Anti-Semitism across our society, especially online, surged after the 7th of October 2023 and has never returned prior levels. Some institutions we now risk it becoming normalized. However, in the 27 months since a second's inception, we have also made real in votes. We have worked constructively with government, institutions, regulators, law enforcement, other major sectors of society, and the Royal Commission to assist them to define, identify and meaningfully tackle Semitism. The government has adopted the ASECA planning fall, and work is underway in many areas. And this experience has shown the value of a sustained focus on addressing anti-Semitism as a major societal issue. Simply a consideration that arises urgently after major incidents. We must believe that modern anti-Semitism can be responsive to education, and this requires a long-term strategy. Over the coming period, a second will continue to pursue its priorities, address the Royal Commission's findings, advise government institutions and policy makers as needed, and work with others to push anti-Semitism to the margins of society where it must remain. Thank you. Thank you, Chair.
Thank you very much for that brief opening step. We'll proceed to questions and begin with Senator Shoebridge.