Jewish community condemns Police Minister Brent Potter’s social media posts

Community members have called for the NT Police Minister to ‘educate himself’ after it was revealed he shared anti-Semitic and racist posts on social media.

Police Minister Brent Potter has defended old posts he shared on Facebook, which referenced the ‘n’ word, targeted Jews, praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and appeared to endorse Nazism. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The Jewish community has expressed horror at Brent Potter’s “appalling conduct” after it was revealed the Police Minister previously shared anti-Semitic and racist posts on social media.

Mr Potter said the since-deleted posts, which referenced the ‘n’ word and praised Vladimir Putin, were satirical, taken out of context, and did not reflect his views.

In one Facebook post from 2014, Mr Potter shared a link to an article titled “It’s time to arrest ultra-Orthodox Jews who delay flights over seating”, in which the author suggested police should have taken action against Jewish men who boarded a plane and refused to sit next to women due to their religious beliefs.

“Wow what a thought”, Mr Potter commented with the story.

In 2013 he shared a meme featuring Nazi general Erwin Rommel with the quote “in the absence of orders go find something and kill it”.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry Co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said Mr Potter’s conduct was appalling and set a terrible example to the public. John Feder/The Australian.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin was scathing.

“Social media is a wonderful way to connect, but it is also an extremely powerful way to vilify people, mock those that look different to us, and arouse support for Nazi Germany,” he said.

“(Mr Potter’s) denigration of Orthodox Jews and admiration for one of Hitler’s generals is appalling conduct by a public official and sets a terrible example.

“Rather than vilifying a group of people he has probably never met let alone gotten to know, he should educate himself and promote understanding and tolerance of others.

“If the minister wishes to meet some Orthodox Jews and see how wonderful they are and what fine travel companions they make, I’d be happy to facilitate this.”

Now deleted social media posts from NT Police Minister Brent Potter and family members, in which he uses the ‘n’ word, targeted Jews, praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and quoted a Nazi general.

The CLP stopped short of calling for Mr Potter’s resignation – as Independent MLA Robyn Lambley has done – but said the Chief Minister must show stronger leadership on the issue.

“This is now a question of her leadership and the Territory Labor’s Party’s leadership,” Namatjira MLA Bill Yan said.

CLP MLA Bill Yan. Picture: Fia Walsh.

“These posts and these accusations are very, very serious, and I think the Chief Minister needs to give them the consideration they deserve, and consider where the current Police Minister sits in parliament.”

After providing written responses on Wednesday morning the government has been unavailable for comment, citing all day budget cabinet meetings.

Part of Mr Potter’s explanation for the posts was that as a Defence veteran he used “military-themed cynical and satirical humour that would not be understood by those who haven’t served”.

“There are plenty of other people who work in the military, the police and in corrections, who, if they had’ve put these posts up on Facebook, would be facing serious issues – so the Police Minister can’t hide behind that,” Mr Yan said.

Mr Potter said the posts did not reflect his views.

Fronting the press on separate allegations of racism in the Territory police force, Commissioner Michael Murphy would not comment on Mr Potter’s actions, but did say there was “absolutely” a humour unique to first responders such as police and armed forces.

“When you see really traumatic events it can somehow be seen as a coping mechanism,” he said.

“Is some of it acceptable? Absolutely not.”

Suki Dorras-Walker, the Greens candidate vying for Mr Potter’s Fannie Bay seat in the August election, said the posts “let down the vibrant multicultural community of Darwin”.

“Potter himself has said that there is no place for racism in the police department – if he really believes this, he would not be defending these posts,” she said.

“Our Chief Minister’s attempts to dismiss these posts is deeply concerning and calls into question her ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to racism.

“This is absolutely appalling and a blight on the Labor government if Lawler does not act. Potter must step aside as police minister.”

Mr Potter said he had ‘done things on social media that I regret and I would never do again’. Picture: Fia Walsh

Chief Minister Eva Lawler said there was “no room for racism in the Territory”.

“Around a decade ago – years before he got into politics – Brent Potter reposted controversial content on his social media account that he now regrets,” she said.

“Many young people who have grown up in the social media era have posted or reposted things they regret.

“These posts do not reflect the Brent Potter of today. The hardworking Territorian fighting for a better and safer Territory.”

Mr Potter said that “like most people, in my past, I have posted or shared controversial content on Facebook but that does not mean I ever agreed with all the views expressed in them”.

“These reposts on Facebook were between eight and 10 years ago when I was in my 20s, and do not define my views on any subject,” he said.

“As a Defence veteran, who served for 15 years, I used social media as a way to connect with others who have been through similar experiences and that included sharing military-themed cynical and satirical humour that would not be understood by those who haven’t served.

“In my 20s, I, like many people that age, have done things on social media that I regret and I would never do again with the benefit of hindsight.”