Federal MPs from both major parties have united to call on the Israel government to immediately extradite alleged child abuser Malka Leifer to Australia.
Former ambassador to Israel turned Liberal MP Dave Sharma and Labor MP Josh Burns will on Monday night move a motion in the House of Representatives hitting out at the “numerous attempts to prevent and delay” Ms Leifer’s extradition, which was first requested by Australia in 2014.
Ms Leifer, 52, faces 74 counts of sexual assault in Victoria related to accusations by three sisters who say they were abused while she was a teacher and principal at the ultra-Orthodox Adass Israel School in Melbourne.
Since extradition proceedings were first brought by Australia more than five years ago, there have been 63 court hearings and the case still has not moved to the formal extradition phase.
The motion, which will call on Israel to immediately extradite Ms Leifer, is expected to have the support to pass the House of Representatives.
Mr Sharma will be supported by other Liberal MPs including Katie Allan, Julian Leeser and Tim Wilson. Labor will support the motion, with MPs speaking in favour to include Mike Freelander and Mark Dreyfus.
Mr Sharma said Australia had been “exceptionally patient” in the case but “enough was enough”.
“It is time for Ms Leifer to be extradited to Australia and face her accusers,” he said.
“The Australian Parliament and Australian government will not rest until justice is done in this case. To our friends in Israel we say: it is time to act. Do the right thing and support justice for victims in both our countries.”
Read the article by Anthony Galloway in The Age.