Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, , 8:56:13 to 9:03:24
Questions are raised regarding the Special Envoy's role in a local government summit co-hosted by the Combating Anti-Semitism Movement (CAM) and the due diligence performed on the organization.
Topics: Antisemitism, Integrity
Speakers: Jillian Segal, Senator David Shoebridge
What is your officer's role as co-host of the November combating anti-Semitism movement summit in Waverley?
I might say me giving uh enough the dinner speech at that conference. Uh not me directly, but a member of my team has spoken to them about the programme to just see where I could best fit. But I think it's now been decided that I would give a a speech at the dinner event, which is the night before the conference formally commences, I believe.
Is there a written agreement setting out your co-host role? And if so, can you please provide it to the committee?
Certainly, Senator, can I take that on notice? Um I I don't believe there is any agreement, but we will check and I will get back.
Well I mean the are you co-host.
I wouldn't have called our involvement as co-host. I'm certainly supportive of the work that that uh local government uh area does. I think it's very important, it's very close to the community. Uh and uh uh previous I did speak at the previous PAM conference a year ago, and I found it a very useful uh conference. I I'm not aware of any sort of more formal role, but um if you have something before you that lists us as a co-host, I I certainly will investigate I'm not aware of that.
Well, I mean it's their website. Their website says the 2026 local government summit against anti-Semitism Social Cohesion is is co-hosted
But if you're not let me let me take that on notice that that's on their website. I'm sure it's not on our website.
All right. So you don't you don't believe you are a co-hosting is attending?
Well, I think I'm I'm I'm uh obviously a speaker and and I'm fully supportive of the work that they are doing. Um bring local councillors and mayors together to talk about anti-Semitism.
Okay. Um what is there any time money, staff time or in-kind support that your office is providing?
To there?
Yes.
Uh other than uh I I I don't I don't believe so. Um I'm more than happy to check, but I do believe that there have been discussions which have centred around uh the work uh that I'm doing uh in terms of of speaking. Um I don't believe uh anything else, but I'm I'm more than happy to take no notice.
All right, thank you for that. The um have you done due diligence in relation to the senior executives of of CAM, given that it's CEO previously headed, I believe the IDF social media unit. Have you reviewed any of that?
No, Senator.
Were you aware that the CEO previously headed the Israeli Defence Forces Social Media Unit?
No, Senator. Um Can you tell that the name of the CEO that you're referring to? Is this an Australian person or an international person? Uh is that is that an Australian CEO or an international person? Because it is an international organization.
Um I'm asking if you've done the due diligence. So you haven't done due diligence.
Um I I I personally haven't uh done uh I I have. Been dealing with a my office has been dealing, I think, with people in Australia. But I don't believe that they run the organization. I think it is an international organization that has held conferences about anti Semitism in lots of uh different jurisdictions.
Are you aware that this same organization awarded uh a prize dubbed the Hebrew hammer to Congressman Randy Fine? And that was in the form of a baseball bat?
No, no, Senator, I'm not.
Have you reviewed the statements made by Congressman Randy Fine that were relied upon in order to provide that award? Um statements that I find utterly shameful and appalling in relation to the tragedy that's happening in Gaza. Have you reviewed any of that?
No, I'm sorry, Senator, I haven't.
Do you think it would be appropriate to review those before you agree to speak at an event and do that kind of due diligence?
Well, Senator, um uh my perspective on this is that they um are hosting a conference, uh it's the second conference, I believe, that they've hosted here, where they bring together and they have brought together local government. Um, and that's the focus of the conference. Um yes, they're the organizers, but it it's been run by uh local government for local government to exchange ideas with each other about dealing with anti-Semitism on the ground. Now I think that's a very important uh agenda, and I've agreed to speak on that agenda to endorse anybody in particular, but to to talk to local government.
Well, do you agree with Cam having given this award to Congressman Randy Fine, dubbed the Hebrew hammer in circumstances where Congressman Fine has made statements such as uh calling for the streets of Gaza to, and I quote him, overflow with blood, tweeting Gaza must be destroyed and telling Gazans to just starve? Do you think you should be associating yourself with an organization that provides an award to somebody like Congressman Fine?
Uh Senator, I just uh I'm not aware of those. I'm more than happy to take it on notice and to come back to you uh with a considered view. But I have heard a great deal from uh the Jewish community more generally uh that they think the focus that is the focus here in Australia of this organization on local government is incredibly important. So that's what I have responded to.
But you're appearing in the form of a public official, and I think most people would expect a public official to do a basic due diligence like this and and to perhaps show some restraint before attend before associating yourself with an organization that awards um um honours to somebody such as Congressman Fine, given his statements. You don't agree with that?
Um Senator, my my focus is on anti-Semitism. So I I I have always heard that now has had a good record for tackling anti-Semitism at their conferences, and that's what I've responded to. So I I I'm more than happy to do some further research in relation uh to the organization internationally, but um in Australia, I think they've they've limited themselves to what I've described.