Former premiers, business and community leaders warn against antisemitism

Hundreds of Australian business and community leaders have joined forces to warn against a sharp rise in antisemitism in the wake of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with former premiers from both sides of politics also backing the call to reject racism.

Former premiers including Daniel Andrews from Victoria, Gladys Berejiklian from NSW, Anna Bligh from Queensland and Mark McGowan from Western Australia are among the 600 people who have signed the statement out of concern at the attacks.

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews have signed the statement. Credit: Christopher Pearce/Darrian Traynor

Telstra chair John Mullen, BlueScope chair Jane McAloon, Macquarie Group chair Glenn Stevens, Wesfarmers chair Michael Chaney and AFL Commission chair Richard Goyder are also among the signatories.

The letter is being described by supporters as one of the most powerful petitions of its kind in Australian public life, highlighting the growing anxiety about antisemitism since a small group of protesters chanted “f--- the Jews” at a march near the Sydney Opera House on October 9.

The signatories also include former Victorian governor Linda Dessau and former West Australian governor and federal Labor leader Kim Beazley, along with community leaders such as OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn, mental health advocate Frank Oberklaid and feminist and company director Eve Mahlab.

The letter cites a 482 per cent rise in antisemitic incidents over the last seven weeks, but the Executive Council of Australian Jewry told this masthead on Monday that its latest figures showed the increase now stood at 591 per cent because of the time lag in reports.

“We have been alarmed at the offensive language, vandalism and harassment occurring on our streets, university campuses and outside public Australian landmarks including the Sydney Opera House, Flinders Street Station and parliament.

“We are unequivocal in our resolve that racism in all its forms is deplorable and abhorrent.

“Whether directed towards Jewish Australians, Muslim Australians, Asian Australians, Indigenous Australians or any other minority, we will not tolerate such conduct in our workplaces and firmly reject it in our communities.

“To our Jewish employees, business partners, customers and all who are affected, we acknowledge the heightened feelings of threat being felt by your community right now and affirm your right to physical and psychological safety.”

While the letter has been circulated by many supporters to build the list of 600 signatories, some of the co-ordinators included philanthropist Carol Schwartz, company director Elana Rubin, Turo car-share chief Tim Rossanis and former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

A public letter drafted by former prime ministers John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison said last month that “no complaint or concern about international affairs justifies hate speech” against any Australian.

“We believe we speak for the vast majority of Australians, of all faiths and of none, when we say we stand in solidarity with Jewish Australians at this time,” they wrote.

Only former prime minister Paul Keating abstained.

Jewish and Islamic communities have been warning for weeks about the growing threat at home from extremists reacting to Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel and the war in Gaza, while Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation director-general Mike Burgess called for moderate language because of the risk of inflaming tensions.

This masthead reported last month that the executive director of Islamophobia Australia, Sharara Attai, said reports of Islamophobia had increased four-fold since October 7.

“The current climate in Australia, which dehumanises and devalues Palestinians, is emboldening racists and Islamophobes to commit acts of hate,” she said.

Supporters of the statement range across the political divide with former Nationals leader and deputy prime minister John Anderson signing the letter alongside former Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Howes.

Some of the other former Victorian premiers to sign the letter include Labor politicians Steve Bracks and John Brumby and former Liberal state leaders Ted Baillieu and Jeff Kennett.

In NSW, the signatories included former Liberal premier Mike Baird and former Labor premiers Morris Iemma and Kristina Keneally.

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