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A former Albanese government minister has broken ranks to criticise aspects of the report handed down by the government’s special envoy to combat antisemitism as “heavy-handed”, questioning the contested definition of antisemitism used in Jillian Segal’s recommendations.
Former industry and science minister Ed Husic, who was moved to the backbench following a post-election cabinet reshuffle, said the report made “some really important” points, but was concerned with certain sections and some of Segal’s commentary.
Former minister Ed Husic has criticised the envoy’s report, becoming the first Labor MP to break ranks on the issue.Credit: Photos: Ben Appleton/Nick Moir
“With the greatest respect to the special envoy, I wasn’t entirely comfortable that she just singles out public broadcasting for attention,” Husic told ABC’s RN Breakfast on Wednesday. “There’s a role to play across media on these issues, and I didn’t necessarily think it was justified to point out the public broadcaster.”
Last week, Segal said reporting by the ABC on the war in Gaza was an example of “manipulated narratives” that could lead to antisemitism.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke both endorsed Segal’s report when she launched it last week, though neither committed to implementing specific recommendations, and mainstream Jewish groups backed it as a vital blueprint to tackle antisemitism.
Husic, a Muslim, has previously broken ranks with the government over Israel and is the first Labor MP to criticise Segal’s report. He said the government should be careful about rushing to adopt her recommendations. “Let’s take the time to think it through,” he said. “A lot of thought’s been put into it.”
There has been rising antisemitism in Australia, including arson attacks and racist graffiti on Jewish buildings, since Hamas’ massacres in Israel on October 7, 2023 and Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza. The government appointed Segal as the antisemitism envoy a year ago to find the causes of the issue and suggest solutions.
In a wide-ranging report delivered last week, Segal concluded that antisemitism was spreading in Australia and took particular aim at the cultural and educational sectors.
“Once unthinkable discussions among Jewish Australians about having a ‘Plan B’ – i.e. emigrating elsewhere in the event that Australia becomes an intolerably hostile environment – reflect the insecurity many of them now feel,” Segal wrote.
She urged funding to be cut to organisations that fail to stop antisemitism, describing it as a last resort option. Husic said he would prefer to bring people together without the threat of funding cuts. “I would much prefer us finding ways to bring people together rather than being heavy-handed in response,” he said, extending the same sentiment towards the upcoming report from the special envoy to combat Islamophobia, Aftab Malik.
When asked about the contested International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, which has been proposed for universal adoption by Australian public institutions, Husic said he had “never needed a definition” of antisemitism in his work as a public figure.
“The issue of definition instantly brings into question whether or not people will be able to raise their concerns of the actions, for example, of what the Netanyahu government is doing in Gaza, and how that would be treated under a definition,” he said.
The IHRA definition of antisemitism says that criticism of Israel, its policy, and politicians “similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.”
A spokesperson for the special envoy said the definition was supported in the report following its endorsement by both major parties in 2021.
Husic cautioned that young Australians’ concern for Palestinians should not be seen as leading to antisemitism. “So that’s important to be mindful of,” he said.
The Coalition has backed the envoy’s report and called on Labor to implement Segal’s recommendations quickly.
More to come.
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