Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Never Again: The Fight against Antisemitism

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (13:23): Last night I attended a special screening of the documentary Never Again: The Fight against Antisemitism. Josh Frydenberg, who presented this important documentary, interviewed a line-up of eminent Australians, including former prime ministers John Howard and Julia Gillard; the former head of ASIO and Department of Defence Dennis Richardson, who has served for many years in national security roles; Sir Peter Cosgrove, who served in our defence forces and was Australia’s former Governor-General; and of course our own former Governor here, Linda Dessau, all of whom spoke with such conviction and clarity about their concerns with the rise of antisemitism.

The Jewish community in Victoria and indeed across our great nation is understandably afraid, with antisemitic incidents at record levels. We cannot ignore these facts, and to argue otherwise is completely blind to what is happening on our streets, in our universities and in our communities. Just a few days ago we witnessed the disgraceful words ‘Jew die’ scrawled across the front gate of Mount Scopus Memorial College. In the documentary parents explain their fear for their children’s safety and how Jewish-owned businesses have been boycotted, and Holocaust survivors give their accounts of the similarities between what we are seeing in Australia today and 1930s Europe. It is utterly chilling. President, I urge you and all members of this Parliament, and indeed all members of the Victorian community and the Australian community, to watch this very important documentary.