PM struggles to find right note on antisemitism
Anthony Albanese points to the array of measures his government has taken to tackle the scourge of antisemitism. But he can’t escape the impression of seeming perennially on the back foot and often lacking adequate empathy and sensitivity in dealing with the issue.
On the latter point, take Australia’s representation to next week’s commemoration in Poland marking 80 years since the last people were freed from Auschwitz.
It’s a major international event, with King Charles and some national leaders, including France’s President Emmanuel Macron, attending.
The Australian government is sending two cabinet ministers: Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus.
Dreyfus, as the most senior Jewish member of the government, is a logical attendee. But Wong is a controversial choice.
Wong is regarded negatively by many in the Australian Jewish community who, to put it bluntly, see her as unsympathetic to Israel and too influential with the PM.
Wong is travelling to Poland on her way back from the Trump inauguration. That might be convenient, but surely it would have been more appropriate and astute to have chosen Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles to lead the Australian delegation to Poland.
Marles commands considerable respect in the Jewish community (and also outranks Wong).
This week, Albanese suddenly reversed his firm opposition to calling a national cabinet meeting on antisemitism, convening one immediately in the wake of the attack on a Sydney childcare centre.
The meeting was long overdue but something of a farce, held in haste and producing the underwhelming decision to set up a national........
© The New Daily
visit website