Jillian Segal announced as Australia’s first Special Envoy to Combat anti-Semitism

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced Australia’s first special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, in an effort to “promote social cohesion”.

Former president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Jillian Segal has been announced as the special envoy to combat anti-Semitism.

Making the announcement at Sydney’s Jewish Museum on Tuesday morning, Anthony Albanese said Ms Segal would be tasked with coming up with measures to educate people on anti-Semitism and advise the government.

“The appointment of Jillian Segal is a critical step in easing the tensions that we see playing out here at home, as a result of the devastating conflict in the Middle East,” the Prime Minister said.

“Australians are deeply concerned about this conflict, and many are hurting. In times like this, Australians must come together, not be torn apart.”

New special envoy on anti-Semitism Jillian Segal speaks flanked by Labor MP Josh Burns, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Multiculturalism Minister Andrew Giles. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Ms Segal said she would create a “strategic plan” to tackle anti-Semitism in the community which had become “normalised” since the October 7 attacks.

She said there needed to be ongoing vigilance to “protect our tolerant and peaceful way of life”.

“Anti-Semitism erodes all that is good and healthy in a society. As such it poses a threat not just to the Jewish community but to our entire nation,” she said.

“Anti-Semitism is an age old hatred. It has the capacity to lie dormant through good times and then in times of crisis, like pandemic (or an) economic downturn, it awakens.

“It triggers the very worst instincts in an individual to fear to blame others for life’s misfortunes and to hate and it is often based on misinformation.”

She also flagged she could recommend legislative reform following a “serious review,” citing doxing – or the malicious publishing of private or personal information – as an area of interest.

It came to light in February after a WhatsApp including hundreds of Jewish creatives had their names, photos and social media accounts published online, with Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus saying he would explore strengthening laws.

Ms Segal’s appointment is for three years, with Mr Albanese saying the hopes there will not be a need for the role to be “ongoing”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said anti-Semitism had become increasingly ‘normalised’ after October 7. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

During the announcement, Mr Albanese reinforced the importance of social cohesion, and denounced recent incidents such as the vandalism at the Australian War Memorial.

“We need to continue to reinforce what are our greatest attributes and that is respect for each other, respect for diversity, a place where people are valued regardless of their gender, their faith, their sexuality, regardless of who they are,” Mr Albanese said.

Mr Albanese also flagged an upcoming announcement of a special envoy for Islamophobia.

He said Ms Segal’s appointment was brought forward so the lawyer and philanthropist could attend the World Jewish Congress in Argentina next week.

The Opposition has welcomed the appointment of Ms Segal as the new special envoy on anti-Semitism. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

A joint release from Acting Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, immigration spokesman Dan Tehan and education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson also welcomed the announcement.

“Ms Segal is a great Australian who is held in the highest regard not only in our Jewish community but also across Australia’s business sector,” it said.

“This appointment is acceptance by the Albanese government that anti-Semitism is a real and present threat in communities across Australia.”

They also called for a judicial inquiry into anti-Semitism on university campuses, and welcomed Ms Segal’s comments that she would “consider the merits” of such an inquiry.

Australia’s peak national body representing the Jewish community, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) strongly supported the appointment.

“We commend Prime Minister Albanese and his government for taking this initiative in response to the unprecedented surge of anti-Semitism that has occurred in Australia and other Western countries since the atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel, and the war started by it, on 7 October 2023,” ECAJ president Daniel Aghion said.

Originally published as Jillian Segal announced as Australia’s first Special Envoy to Combat anti-Semitism