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Labor eyes school curriculum changes to teach perils of anti-Semitism

Education Minister Jason Clare ‘stands ready’ to reform the school curriculum so children are taught more about anti-Semitism.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Education Minister Jason Clare “stands ready” to reform the school curriculum so children are taught more about anti-Semitism, declaring there was a role for teachers in educating young ­people about the “poison” of ­bigotry towards Jews.

As the Victorian government set up an “anti-hate” taskforce following a string of attacks against Jews in Melbourne at the weekend, Mr Clare said he was willing to back changes to the school curriculum if they were recommended by the Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism, Jillian Segal.

Mr Clare’s comments come as Ms Segal and former prime minister Tony Abbott called for a crackdown on anti-Israel protests and former Department of Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo called for an Operation Sovereign Borders-style taskforce to prevent terror attacks against Jews.

Mr Abbott accused Labor of failing to take anti-Semitism seriously enough after the October 7, 2023, terror attack in Israel.

“The only way to show seriousness now would be to ban the pro-Hamas marches and use the police to break them up like the anti-lockdown protests were broken up,” Mr Abbott said.

The West Australian government on Monday backed a fresh national cabinet meeting on anti-Semitism, although the need for this was played down by the NSW government.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan left the door open to backing a national cabinet meeting while Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said “state governments must stand shoulder to shoulder with the commonwealth against anti-Semitism”.

With the peak Jewish body calling for anti-Semitism to be part of the national curriculum as part of a 15-point plan to tackle the issue, Mr Clare told The Australian that “Holocaust education is part of the Australian curriculum”.

“It’s only by learning the lessons of the Holocaust that we can ensure it never happens again,” he said.

Mr Clare said the government was also providing funding to expand social cohesion programs in schools while establishing the ­National Holocaust Education Centre in Canberra.

He acknowledged, however, that there was more to be done.

“There is no place for the poison of anti-Semitism in our community, and our schools play an important role in educating young people about anti-Semitism and racism more broadly,” Mr Clare said.

“There is always more that can be done, and the government stands ready to work with the Special Envoy to Combat anti-Semitism on further reforms here.”

The Australian understands Ms Segal is likely to advise the government that there needs to be more taught about anti-Semitism in schools.

She said the “environment of hatred and intimidation that has been allowed to grow and fester needs to be tackled head on”.

“These attacks are fundamentally incompatible with Australian values, and have rightfully been condemned by political leaders. I support action, by our political leaders, that will end these violent and intimidating protests,” Ms ­Segal said.

“Condemnation is not enough. We urgently need stronger policing and laws that name this hate for what it is, and punish it ­accordingly.

“Violent or intimidating protest activity which targets the Jewish community is not protest, it is anti-Semitism. Australians know this. It must stop.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin urged Labor to act on the body’s 15-point plan to combat anti-Semitism, as was presented in a letter to Anthony Albanese in February.

“Point one of which is for the government to stand up a joint counter-terrorism taskforce before there is a mass casualty event, not after,” Mr Ryvchin said.

“The time for political rhetoric has passed. We need ­action.”

Mr Pezzullo said it was “imperative” the Albanese government get ahead of a potential terror attack by setting up a taskforce with members of ASIO and federal and state police.

He said the taskforce make-up should mimic Operation Sovereign Borders, set up by the Abbott government to stop illegal boat ­arrivals.

“Regrettably, we have to assume that such an attack is now probable (to use the ASIO rating), especially as Iranian and possibly other hostile services might decide that mass casualty attacks on Jewish people and/or places would be an effective way to strike back at Israel,” he said.

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/labor-eyes-school-focus-on-antisemitism/news-story/fb4a4806c66e8a564bc38aaaaa198839