Election 2022: Anthony Albanese ‘regrets Nazi reference’ from 2001

Anthony Albanese says he regrets a historical Nazi reference he once used to attack the Coalition over asylum-seekers.

Anthony Albanese in 2001.

Anthony Albanese says he regrets a historical Nazi reference he once used to attack the Coalition over asylum-seekers as Jewish leaders call for an end to the use of such ­offensive remarks in political ­debate.

It comes only a day after Mr Albanese was forced to condemn a Labor branch Facebook page that depicted Josh Frydenberg, Australia’s first Jewish treasurer, in a Nazi-SS uniform.

The Labor leader was forced to withdraw the use of a Nazi slogan “Sieg Heil” when accusing the Howard government of racist policy over the Tampa affair in 2001.

He had shouted the slogan across the chamber of parliament – a ­remark he was forced to withdraw by the Speaker. It went largely unreported at the time.

But the Coalition has used the historical insult by Mr Albanese to accuse Labor of hypocrisy after Mr Albanese earlier this year ­denounced the use of Holocaust parallels for political purposes.

Mr Albanese told The Weekend Australian: “I regretted the comment of more than 20 years ago, which is why I withdrew it at the time. Holocaust parallels should never be used, which is why I never have.”

With an increasing use of Holocaust references in Australian politics, Jewish leaders have said “enough is enough” and suggested politicians may need to be educated about the Nazi genocide.

Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, said while Mr Albanese had withdrawn the remark, such references could never be justified.

“It was important and proper that Anthony Albanese withdrew the remark at the time it was made, because inappropriate Nazi references are never justified as they risk trivialising the uniquely evil nature of that ­regime,” he said.

The issue came to prominence during the election campaign when Katherine Deves, the Liberal candidate for the Sydney seat of Warringah, was forced to apologise for previous remarks in which she compared her “activism” on transgender athletes to those who stood up against the Nazis.

Ms Deves was attacked by Labor MPs for her use of Holocaust parallels.

The independent candidate for Kooyong, Monique Ryan, who is running against Mr Frydenberg, has also been forced to apologise for a Nazi meme she published in 2017 that sought to compare Donald Trump with Hitler.

Head of the Australian Jewish Association David Adler said that it was disappointing that politicians still used Holocaust references in political debate and that it was time for it to stop.

“We have seen inappropriate leveraging of the Holocaust for a whole range of political purposes,” he said.

“Our position is that it is just wrong for the Holocaust to be ­leveraged for political purposes.

“The Holocaust was an industrial-scale attempt to murder an entire people. Nothing in Australian politics resembles that.

“It demonstrates a lack of education or knowledge.

“The recommended remedy is that we arrange guided tours of Sydney or Melbourne Holocaust museums and arrange a meeting with a Holocaust survivor, so they ­develop a better understanding of what the Holocaust is about.”

Mr Frydenberg said the sort of language used by Mr Albanese was unacceptable and there was no excuse for it.

“The misuse of Holocaust ­analogies is completely unacceptable, no matter what the circumstances are,” the Treasurer said.

“These analogies are deeply offensive and inappropriate.

“I don’t care who it is or which party they are from – if they misrepresent the tragic events of the Holocaust, it must be called out.”

Former Labor MP Michael Danby said the use of the term was offensive and politicians should cease any references to the Holocaust or Nazism in political debate.

“It’s lazy and offensive,” Mr Danby told The Weekend Australian.

“When are people going to learn? All sides of politics drop it. It demeans the people who suffered so much.”