MEDIA RELEASES

Pauline Hanson “has declared war on tolerance”, say Jeremy Jones and Colin Rubenstein

Jul 6, 2016 | AIJAC

Pauline Hanson “has declared war on tolerance”
news_item/Pauline-Hanson.jpg

“Racism and bigotry is always unacceptable, and it is additionally repugnant when espoused by an elected member of parliament,” Jeremy Jones AM, Director of International and of Community Affairs of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council said today.

“Even before votes have been tallied, Pauline Hanson has, in effect, declared war on Australian tolerance, community harmony and social cohesion, and her bigotry should be exposed for the evil which it is,” Jones, who was awarded the Australian Human Rights Medal in 2007, added.

“When Executive Council of Australian Jewry President, I successfully complained about One Nation’s Queensland Branch’s breach of anti-racism law, but even if One Nation activists had never promoted antisemitism we would be just as concerned with its return to political life”, he concluded.

Dr Colin Rubenstein AM, AIJAC’s Executive Director, said: “One Nation’s contemptible vilification and demonization of Islam, Muslims, Asians and other minority groups must be repudiated. While One Nation has destructively exploited the apprehension of a number of Australians, the incoming government and parliament must be resolute in confronting racism in all its guises. It must strengthen community harmony and security and demonstrate an understanding of the real challenges our society confronts and develop an ability to address and overcome them.”

“It is not surprising, for example, that Pauline Hanson opposes protection of Australians from vilification and harassment, and her re-emergence in national politics yet again reinforces the value of these protections,” he said.

“We must not allow her to once again open the floodgates of hatred and empower malicious, racist elements, nor should she be allowed to masquerade as a voice of ordinary, civic-minded, decent Australians,” he concluded.

Tags:

RELATED ARTICLES


Image: Shutterstock

AIJAC “gravely disappointed” by Australian Government’s decision to resume UNRWA funding

Mar 15, 2024 | Featured, Media Releases
Image: Shutterstock

AIJAC calls on Australian Government to remain firm on UNRWA

Mar 12, 2024 | Featured, Media Releases
Israeli trauma expert Dr Moshe Farchi (Image: Twitter/X)

AIJAC angered and disappointed at “cowardly” and “discriminatory” actions of the 2024 Frontline Mental Health Conference

Mar 4, 2024 | Featured, Media Releases
Screenshot 2024 02 15 At 6.22.56 pm

AIJAC disappointed with Prime Ministers’ statement on Rafah that appears “divorced from reality”

Feb 15, 2024 | Featured, Media Releases
The International Court of Justice prepares to deliver its findings on Jan. 26.

AIJAC pleased ICJ permitted Israel’s just war of self-defence against Hamas to continue

Jan 27, 2024 | Featured, Media Releases
Image: Shutterstock

AIJAC welcomes new Australian sanctions targeting Hamas, Hezbollah, PIJ and the IRGC

Jan 23, 2024 | Featured, Media Releases

SIGN UP FOR AIJAC EMAILS

RECENT POSTS

A barrage of words charged with venomous lies targets Australian Jews daily (Image: Shutterstock)

The Last Word: Words – Holy and hateful

The 2020 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Ministerial Declaration (Image: US Dept of State)

Europa Europa: Empty words

Mghead2

Biblio File: The Education of an Editor

Memorial composed of photos of young Israelis killed during the terrorist attack on the NOVA Festival which took place on October 7, 2023 a few kilometers from Gaza (Image: Jose Hernandez/ Camera 51/ Shutterstock)

The world’s ‘Triple Standard’ against Israel endangers global security

Image: Abed Rahim Khatib/ Shutterstock

A plan for Gaza

A barrage of words charged with venomous lies targets Australian Jews daily (Image: Shutterstock)

The Last Word: Words – Holy and hateful

The 2020 International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Ministerial Declaration (Image: US Dept of State)

Europa Europa: Empty words

Mghead2

Biblio File: The Education of an Editor

Memorial composed of photos of young Israelis killed during the terrorist attack on the NOVA Festival which took place on October 7, 2023 a few kilometers from Gaza (Image: Jose Hernandez/ Camera 51/ Shutterstock)

The world’s ‘Triple Standard’ against Israel endangers global security

Image: Abed Rahim Khatib/ Shutterstock

A plan for Gaza

SORT BY TOPICS