On 30 June, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended a large lunchtime function of the Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC) to spruik the Voice. The AICC website says its role is to enhance non-partisan business networking at senior levels and vigorously promote bilateral trade through inbound and outbound trade missions. Exactly what this has to do with the Voice is unclear, but likely when the PM is guest of honour then the subject is as he chooses.
Shortly after the function concluded the PM took to his social media to declare, ‘I’m heartened that so many Jewish groups, along with such a broad spectrum of multicultural groups and faith groups, will campaign for Yes to constitutional recognition this year.’
However, feedback to the Australian Jewish Association, by far the largest Australian Jewish organisation, as measured by social media following and community engagement, strongly supports a No trend.
While it is true some prominent members and groups in the Jewish community have indeed declared support for the Voice, they are grossly misleading the government (not for the first time) by claiming widespread majority support. Why they have chosen to do so is open to speculation. Jewish community organisations have not been immune to the long march of the left through the institutions, and some have supported all sorts of woke causes contrary to Jewish values and the Voice is yet another. Or perhaps there are certain individuals riding the political tide and seeking to endear themselves to the Labor party which they judge as being in power for more than one term.
Read the article by David Adler in The Spectator.