Victorian senator James Paterson has told the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing he believes there is an “ongoing, profoundly series antisemitism crisis” in Australia, following an arson attack on a synagogue and several other incidents in Melbourne.
“[That] we have people in this country that believe it’s appropriate to set fire to a synagogue … or who think it’s appropriate to protest very vigorously outside Jewish businesses just shows how serious this problem is.
Opposition finance spokesman James Paterson.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“The Albanese government must take a very different approach … to what it did in its first term. It must be much more proactive, ensure the law is enforced and that we have a comprehensive plan of this cancer in our society.”
Asked what the Coalition’s plan was to address antisemitism, Paterson said his leader Sussan Ley had recommitted to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s 15 identified priorities, as the government did not.
In response to the attacks, Victoria’s state government has set up an anti-hate taskforce to help frame laws giving police more powers to tackle violent protests.
Paterson was also asked about the outcome of the mushroom murder trial, which he said he didn’t follow closely.
“All I can say is I hope [the verdict] brings some small measure of comfort and justice to the families of the victims. It is a tragic thing that people lost their lives and another person almost killed in what really was a bizarre episode,” he said.
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Paterson was also asked for his thoughts on a national truth-telling process, which Indigenous Affairs Minister Malandirri McCarthy said she was interested in this morning.
“The Albanese government did not take to the election a policy for a truth telling – or Makaratta – process,” he said.
“When asked about this during the election campaign they said it was a Liberal Party scare campaign to suggest that any element of the Uluru Statement from the Heart was something the government was committed to.
“I think it is important from the prime minster, who has denied many times he has any intention of pursuing other elements of the Voice proposal, [to say] what exactly the government has in mind, given the minister has opened the door here.”
Paterson also reacted to the Climate Change Authority chairman Matt Kean saying the Coalition should adopt stronger climate policies following its election defeat, rather than debating this idea.
“I couldn’t more profoundly disagree with what he says,” he said.
“[He] is a political appointee of a Labor government and he’s got a task to do there, but the Liberal Party cherishes debate.”
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