Australia’s largest Anglo-Celtic advocacy group has slammed the Labor government’s appointment of a special envoy for anti-Semitism, saying it ignores institutional racism against White people.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday appointed Jewish lawyer and pro-Israel advocate Jillian Segal as the first “Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism“, and said the government would soon name a Special Envoy on Islamophobia.
British Australian Community President Harry Richardson told Noticer News that the creation of the special envoys showed the government was not interested in tackling Anglophobia.
“The truth of the matter is, that neither Muslims nor Jews face institutional racism in Australia. The only group that does, is the White British and European descendants who built the nation,” he said.
“Anglo-Celtic Australians are under attack from governments, in the form of replacement-level immigration, affirmative action, and indoctrination of schoolkids against their ancestors.
“Once again we see clearly that there is an ethnic hierarchy in Australia and traditional Australians are at the bottom.”
Ms Segal’s first trip as Special Envoy will be to Argentina for an event held by the World Jewish Congress, which drew attention just this week for comments made by President Ronald S. Lauder in a speech in 2019.
Mr Lauder said in his address to world leaders that harsh new laws were needed to stop anti-Semitism: “Laws must be passed, severe, tough, real laws that will put these hatemongers away in prison for a long time.”
World Jewish Congress president Ron Lauder claims “severe laws” are necessary worldwide in order to quell rising antisemitism.
“Laws must be passed, severe, tough, real laws that will put these hatemongers away in prison for a long time.” pic.twitter.com/ZgqmpINR1D
— Dominic Michael Tripi (@DMichaelTripi) July 10, 2024
Ms Segal was born in South African before moving to Australia where she attended exclusive Sydney private school Kambala, is a former deputy chancellor of the University of New South Wales, served on the National Australia Bank board, and was president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ).
She will serve a three-year term and report directly to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs who she will advise on the issue of anti-Semitism.
“As Special Envoy, Ms Segal AO will listen to and engage with Jewish Australians, the wider Australian community, religious discrimination experts and all levels of government on the most effective way to combat anti-Semitism,” the Prime Minister’s office said in a statement.
“Ms Segal will attend the World Jewish Congress in Argentina next week in her role as Special Envoy, alongside other Special Envoys to combat anti-Semitism from around the world.”
Many Australians criticised Mr Albanese’s appointment of Ms Segal on social media, pointing out there was no such position to combat anti-White racism.
“Will you also be setting one up to combat Christophobia, is discrimination against Christian’s not an issue for your government?” asked X user HayesMediaGroup.
“We only built this nation, why should we not be availed the same protections as those that have come here not assimilated.”
“Do White Australians get a representative to sit at the table for the ‘social cohesion’ discussions?” asked another.
“Or are we just expected to comply with whatever a bunch of foreigners decide is good for them in our own country?”
There is no place for violence, hatred or discrimination of any kind in Australia.
And as part of my Government’s work to promote social cohesion, we have appointed Jillian Segal AO as Special Envoy to combat Antisemitism. pic.twitter.com/e1OMFS76Ih
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 9, 2024
The Jewish Council of Australia (JCA), an anti-Zionist Jewish organisation, said it was concerned at Ms Segal’s appointment and the “treatment of anti-Semitism as distinct from other forms of racism”.
“To single out anti-Semitism, when other groups are also suffering from racism, including First Nations people, and Palestinian and Muslim communities, undermines wider efforts to fight all forms of racism and will only drive division,” the JCA said in a statement.
“We are also concerned about the proposed envoy’s track record, in previous roles, of lobbying for Israel, opposing voices that support Palestinian human rights, and painting all Jews as supportive of Israel’s actions.
“Pro-Israel organisations in Australia have relied on relentless anti-Palestinian racism to justify Israel’s violence against Palestinians. By appointing a pro-war voice to this position the government risks breeding division, increasing Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism, and ultimately making Jews less safe.”
ECAJ President Daniel Aghion KC said he was “delighted” at Ms Segal’s appointment.
“She will bring deep knowledge of the issues and immense energy to the role, and we are confident that she will carry out her duties with integrity and distinction. We wish her every success in undertaking this vital work for the betterment of Australian society,” he said.
Following Ms Segal’s appointment Australia’s Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus told the National Press Club he was proud to be Jewish but said there had been a “shocking rise” in anti-Semitism and the creation of a Special Envoy was a “concrete action” made to address it.
When asked if criticism of Israel was anti-Semitic, Mr Dreyfus said it “absolutely can be, not always”.
“I criticise the government of Israel from time to time. I don’t think I’m anti-Semitic. Other people criticise the government of Israel and I don’t think they’re antisemitic,” he said.
“But when people are singling out Israel and applying a standard to Israel that they do not apply to other countries, then potentially there’s anti-Semitism going on.”
Mr Dreyfus is also preparing a hate speech bill that will criminalise serious vilification based on race, sexuality, gender, disability and religion, government sources revealed in May.
At the time of the 2021 Census there were 99,956 Jewish people in Australia, less than 0.4% of the population.
