Victoria’s 2024 Local Hero award recipient describes Hamas terrorists as ‘freedom fighters’
A public servant named as the 2024 Local Hero for Victoria is being promoted by the National Australia Day Council despite upset over posts in which she describes Hamas terrorists as “freedom fighters”.
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A Victorian public servant who won an Australian of the Year award for being a “local hero” has claimed Hamas terrorists, including former leader Ismail Haniyeh, will be remembered as “freedom fighters”.
Betul Tuna, who describes herself online as an “change maker, activist, advocate and Intersectional Feminist” and works for the state government in child protection, has claimed that those “the colonisers label a terrorist, historians will declare freedom fighters”.
The disturbing comment was posted to Ms Tuna’s Instagram account this week following the death of Mr Haniyeh, who was the political leader of terrorist organisation Hamas.
Within days of the comment, which has been described as “appalling” and “divisive”, the National Australia Day Council (NADC) launched an advertising campaign featuring Ms Tuna to promote the awards.
The Department of Premier and Cabinet shared the post, calling on Victorians to “recognise someone in your community who’s helping Victorians”.
The prominent pro-Palestine activist also recently shared a photo of a protester wearing a jumper with the words “Intifada Revolution” painted on the back in the Melbourne CBD.
The word intifada means a violent uprising against Israel. There has been two intifada’s in the past which led to thousands of deaths, mostly Palestinian.
Ms Tuna has been regularly posting anti-Israel content online since Hamas’ October 7 massacre – and the subsequent bombardment of Gaza.
Eight days after Hamas’ terror attack – in which 1200 Israelis were murdered – the award recipient posted a series of photos of protesters at a pro-Palestine rally carrying signs that read “Resistance is justified when people are occupied” and “Palestinian resistance = existence”.
Despite the posts, Ms Tuna was awarded the 2024 Victorian “Local Hero” award for her commitment to “humanitarian and community causes” and helping to ensure her regional community of Shepparton is a “safe, supportive place”.
A Victorian government spokesman said the matter for the NADC.
But the NADC refused to respond to multiple questions.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said the awards are supposed to recognise “leadership and virtuous behaviour” not promote figures who “inflame and divide”.
“Ms Tuna’s comments on terrorism and support for violent uprisings show she has swallowed the shallow propaganda of the anti-Israel movement hook, line and sinker,” he said.
“If Ms Tuna is prepared to meet with Jewish Australians, including victims of Palestinian terrorism, to better understand why her words are so appalling and hurtful, we would be happy to facilitate that.”
The Herald Sun reached out to Ms Tuna multiple times to clarify her comments but she did not respond.
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