Paul Scarr (Queensalnd Liberal Party Senator) quizzes representatives of the Department of Home Affairs as to why.
Part of the exchange at the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislative Committee Hearing:
Paul Scarr (LP): I’ve just had a I’ve had a look at the the extract from the Grant connect and I note the worthy objectives and purposes of the Grant and if I can refer to them combat islamophobia and victims develop Communications to combat islamophobia and racism mitigate the harms of mis and disinformation are narratives that impact communities and it goes on and they’re all noble objectives. Has a similar program being undertaken through the department of Home affairs with respect to what I’m sure all senators are seeing in the community, the terrible increase in anti-Semitism and the targeting of our Jewish communities in relation to anti-Semitism? Is a similar program being undertaken by the department of Home Affairs?
Angus Kirkwood (Department of Home Affairs): Not specifically as a separate program Senator, but I guess taking account of the I guess two things one is the entire government approach to funding around this issue across multiple departments including the Attorney General’s department and our own. Also the funding that’s been provided to the Australian Human Rights Commission to progress the anti-racism strategy. The national level projects that we’re pursuing through this package of funding. I mean all of the projects are primarily targeted towards the Palestinian Muslim and other community as intended but obviously when you’re talking about issues like anti-racism and anti-hate speech that goes to a broader whole of community conversation, which would cover everybody it wouldn’t just be anti-islamophobia in that …
Paul Scarr (LP): I appreciate your response appreciate your response Mr Kirkwood but again I’m going through these Grant objectives that specifically refer to combating islamophobia and supporting victims and again that that is a very very noble purpose. Why isn’t there a similar Grant in relation to and I’ll fill it out for you in terms of the terms because I’ve got community members of the Jewish Community approaching me as I’m sure other Senators here have who are giving me examples of the most vile anti-Semitism off Facebook posts, emails, attacks on their families attacks on their person, anti semitism which is dripping with vile hatred. Why don’t we have a grant that’s providing for combating anti-Semitism and supporting victims of anti-Semitism develop communications to combat anti-Semitism and racism, mitigate the harms of misinformation and disinformation and narratives that impact community and I can give you some examples of those, some of the misinformation and disinformation that is being put out around the 7 October attacks and what actually occurred or did not occur and also these awful anti-semitic tropes we’re hearing in some cases disgracefully from some members of parliament in other places. Why haven’t we got a grant that specifically dealing with that in the context where there is an absolute explosion in anti-semitism in this country? The state of Israel is offering travel guidance to people that they need to be concerned about traveling to this country. Where is the grant for addressing anti-Semitism?