Antisemitic attacks are on the increase in Australia. Conflict in Gaza as well as the rise of the vicious Islamic State have inflamed racial tensions here.
But the nostrums of political correctness and a fear of causing offence to certain privileged minority groups are making our leaders reluctant to speak out.
Now six Sydney schoolboys stand accused of chanting antisemitic abuse and threatening violent assault on a bus carrying Jewish school children.
Protests in support of BDS sanctions against Israeli businesses such as Max Brenner have normalised the idea that targeting Jewish groups is acceptable.
All six of the bus thugs come from prominent Eastern Suburbs schools. But so far, Education Minister Adrian Piccoli and staff in his department have said nothing.
Local police commander Jason Box thinks the racist attack was isolated and random, and thinks the disgraceful behaviour was really fuelled by alcohol.
Minister for Citizenship and Communities, Victor Dominello, says that all racial intimidation is deplorable. But few other senior state politicians have spoken out.
Even Premier Mike Baird has remained silent. The best the NSW Government was able to do was refer the incident to the State Transit Authority.
But an antisemitic attack on a bus is no more a transport matter than it would be a sporting matter had it occurred in the grandstand of a Saturday morning football game.
Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner has rightly condemned this behaviour as having no place in a harmonious, multicultural country such as Australia. But it is here.
A past President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies tells me this is the worst antisemitism he has seen here in more than 30 years of community leadership.
Placards at recent rallies in support of Israel called for peace and an end to the rockets. Those in support of Hamas bore images of a Jew drinking a child's blood.
The Scanlon Foundation's most recent Mapping Social Cohesion report shows that the vast majority of Australians support multiculturalism.
But true respect for multicultural diversity demands that we must work much harder to secure the safety and well-being of all ethnic groups in Australia.
Antisemitism is a scourge fuelled by bigotry, malice and hatred. All political leaders must condemn it unequivocally if their pursuit of tolerance is sincere.
Peter Kurti is a Research Fellow at The Centre for Independent Studies.
Home > Commentary > Opinion > Antisemitic abuse demands our leaders’ condemnation
Antisemitic abuse demands our leaders’ condemnation
But the nostrums of political correctness and a fear of causing offence to certain privileged minority groups are making our leaders reluctant to speak out.
Now six Sydney schoolboys stand accused of chanting antisemitic abuse and threatening violent assault on a bus carrying Jewish school children.
Protests in support of BDS sanctions against Israeli businesses such as Max Brenner have normalised the idea that targeting Jewish groups is acceptable.
All six of the bus thugs come from prominent Eastern Suburbs schools. But so far, Education Minister Adrian Piccoli and staff in his department have said nothing.
Local police commander Jason Box thinks the racist attack was isolated and random, and thinks the disgraceful behaviour was really fuelled by alcohol.
Minister for Citizenship and Communities, Victor Dominello, says that all racial intimidation is deplorable. But few other senior state politicians have spoken out.
Even Premier Mike Baird has remained silent. The best the NSW Government was able to do was refer the incident to the State Transit Authority.
But an antisemitic attack on a bus is no more a transport matter than it would be a sporting matter had it occurred in the grandstand of a Saturday morning football game.
Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner has rightly condemned this behaviour as having no place in a harmonious, multicultural country such as Australia. But it is here.
A past President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies tells me this is the worst antisemitism he has seen here in more than 30 years of community leadership.
Placards at recent rallies in support of Israel called for peace and an end to the rockets. Those in support of Hamas bore images of a Jew drinking a child's blood.
The Scanlon Foundation's most recent Mapping Social Cohesion report shows that the vast majority of Australians support multiculturalism.
But true respect for multicultural diversity demands that we must work much harder to secure the safety and well-being of all ethnic groups in Australia.
Antisemitism is a scourge fuelled by bigotry, malice and hatred. All political leaders must condemn it unequivocally if their pursuit of tolerance is sincere.
Peter Kurti is a Research Fellow at The Centre for Independent Studies.
• Subscribe
Subscribe now and stay in the loop with our giving appeals, event alerts, newsletters and research updates.
We are always pleased to hear from you. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact us here: