Dave Sharma: New senator calls on ABC, universities to adopt international anti-Semitism guide
Under a radical proposal from NSW’s newest senator, Dave Sharma, Australian universities and the ABC would be required to adopt a new definition of anti-Semitism. Read about the plan.
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Universities, the ABC and arts institutions that receive Commonwealth cash should be forced to follow international guidelines on anti-semitism, NSW’s newest senator has claimed amid a concerning rise in the discrimination of Jewish Australians.
Former Wentworth MP Dave Sharma — who was preselected for the Senate on Sunday — said the guidelines from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance should extend to government backed organisations to stamp out rampant anti-semitism.
“The Commonwealth has done work and the states have done work on adopting the IHRA guideline. Arts companies, universities, all kinds of companies — institutions that get government funding should also be required to adopt them,” he said.
His comments come after hundreds of academics across Australian universities signed an open letter condemning Israel’s “genocidal” attack on Palestine.
The furious academics called for their institutions to reject the IHRA guidelines because it “censors and punishes academic engagement with issues concerning Palestine”.
The guidelines said comments such as comparing the state of Israel with Nazi Germany or stating that Israel should not exist amounted to anti-semitism.
The full IHRA definition of anti-Semitism included 11 examples including Holocaust denialism, justifying the killing of Jews, and claiming that the existence of Israel is racist.
Mr Sharma said the guidelines ensure criticism of Israeli policies is not conflated with anti-Semitism.
“In some of the things academics say, the protesters say, anti-Semitism is involved. (They are) holding Israel to a different standard that we would apply to ourselves and different countries,” he said.
“People who wouldn’t have much to say about the Allied conduct in Afghanistan or against Islamic State are demanding that Israel doesn’t cause any civilian casualties.
“The more worrying thing is holding Jewish Australians responsible for the state of Israel … people who are protesting are directing their ire at Jewish people, Jewish schools, at Jewish synagogues.”
Mr Sharma said some universities were refusing to adopt the guidelines in the wake of conflict on the Gaza Strip.
“Would we hold Afghan Australians responsible for the actions of the Taliban? That’s what these guidelines make clear.
“Sydney University has handled this issue well to date but there are a number of universities who are rejecting it. The ABC, I don’t know if the ABC has adopted them but they should be provided to journalists for guidance.”
A spokesman for the ABC said: “The ABC, as an independent public broadcaster, sets its own editorial policies and guidance, and senior editors are satisfied that current settings are appropriate.”
The broadcaster’s editorial policy notes: “The point at which legitimate criticism of the state of Israel and the actions of some Israelis becomes anti-Semitism reveals itself when the target becomes ‘Jews’ rather than ‘Israel’.”
Mr Sharma said he would fight hard against anti-Semitism but his second innings in Canberra would not be focused on “one issue”.
He said cost of living was the most important issue for many Australians and would be his priority.
“I think housing affordability and cost of living are heads and shoulders above everything else,” he said.
“Interest rates are going up, the cost of basics is going up, and incomes aren’t keeping pace with inflation. We need to be addressing this at a parliament.”
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Originally published as Dave Sharma: New senator calls on ABC, universities to adopt international anti-Semitism guide
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