QNews: Tim Wilson raises alarm over extremism in Australia
Michael Barnett OAM
Tim Wilson raises alarm over extremism in Australia
Liberal MP Tim Wilson has raised concerns about growing homophobia and antisemitism in an opinion piece in the Australian Jewish News.
“This is not just an issue for Jewish Australians.” Tim Wilson wrote in the Australian Jewish News on the weekend.
“The persistence of extremism is a demonstration of the importance of leadership.”
“Or more importantly, the consequences of the absence of it.”
Wilson highlighted the Albanese government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state.
Saying it was “one of the most perplexing in Australian foreign policy.”
“Until recently, there was bipartisan consensus for a two-state solution based on reasonable preconditions.
“Israel’s right to exist in safety, an elected government, no role for Hamas and the release of hostages.
“It was not long ago that the Prime Minister said those preconditions had not been met and therefore recognition was premature.
“Nothing has changed, yet government policy has.”
Australia will move to recognise a state of Palestine at the next United Nations meeting this month.
Prime Minister Albanese said in a statement this would “contribute to international momentum towards a two-state solutions, a ceasefire in Gaza and release of the hostages.”
‘This is politics, not principle’
“Since 1947, Australia has supported Israel’s existence,” the statement read.
“In that year, Australia’s Foreign Minister Evatt chaired the UN committee that recommended the creation of two states side by side.”
“Then, as now, the international community understood a two-state solution was the basis of peace and security for the peoples of the region.
“Australia was the first country to raise its hand at the United Nations in support of Resolution 181.
“To create the State of Israel – and a Palestinian state.
“More than 77 years later, the world can no longer wait for the implementation of that Resolution to be negotiated between the parties.”
In his op-ed, Wilson stated that the decision was “politics, not principle.”
“Ninety thousand people marched across the Harbour Bridge, and Labor’s policy seemed to march with them.”
“Whether they were spooked or made a choice, the government saw a political moment, and the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister grabbed it.
“There may have been a moment in the future where bipartisan recognition was possible,
“But it would have been contingent on changed conditions.
“Instead, the Prime Minister abandoned those preconditions entirely.”
Wilson highlighted that “Hamas’s sponsor, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has been connected by Australia’s intelligence agencies to the firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue and sewing social division within our country.”
Wilson wrote that Labor’s decision has vindicated the atrocities of October 7, when Hamas and other groups reportedly seized over 200 Israeli and foreign national hostages.
117 hostages had reportedly been returned alive from Gaza.
Many in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners during a week-long November 2023 pause in fighting.
Failure to confront the explosion of antisemitism
Wilson wrote that “one of the most distressing moments in Australian foreign policy has been turned into one of its most shameful.”
Highlighting that the Government’s choice to act now makes its past inaction a “failure to confront the explosion of antisemitism in Australia.”
“From the Opera House steps, where there was hesitation to condemn chants of ‘gas the Jews’ or ‘where’s the Jews’, the tone was set.
“That vacuum of leadership has echoed through protests outside synagogues, intimidation on university campuses, firebombings, the attack on Miznon restaurant, and even harassment of people in a Melbourne hair salon.
“Antisemitism has been unleashed like the inflationary form of bigotry – easy to release, hard to contain.
“We all believe in a free society and free speech. But with rights come responsibilities.
“And one of the responsibilities is on people to exercise their speech with mindfulness.
“But more importantly, we all carry the responsibility to exercise our speech.
“To stand up for the type of community we want to be, and to call out despicable conduct.
“This burden falls harder on those with the biggest platforms in public life. This is what has been missing.”
Wilson highlighted that “too often the only voices that have stood up and spoken out against antisemitism have been those from the Jewish community.
“This is not just an issue for Jewish Australians.”
Wilson used his platform to highlight the rise in far-right hate in Victoria.
With graffiti showing nazi symbolism appearing near synagogs and queer venues.
‘Extremism once normalised spreads quickly across society’
At last week’s March for Australia rallies, Neo-Nazis made their presence and intentions very publicly known.
Rounding out the Victorian march, attacking the sacred Indigenous site Camp Sovereignty and the people who were there.
Wilson wrote about his Armenian heritage, stating that “I rarely speak of my personal life and how that intersects as well.”
“As the records at Yad Vashem state, ‘Many who were found to be habitual homosexuals were sent to concentration camps, where they were forced to wear pink triangular badges, were treated harshly, and thousands perished.'”
“We are seeing this permissive environment again.”
Also a gay man, Wilson highlighted the rise in homophobia seen in Melbourne and across the country.
Highlighting men who have sex with men being targeted through dating apps and graffiti defacing LGBTQ+ venues.
“Ad harassment directed at my own office because I wear the yellow hostage pin.” Wilson wrote.
“These threats, laced with antisemitism and homophobia, have been referred to the AFP.”
“A permissive environment for extremism is now spreading.”
Wilson highlighted that when the government does not speak up, it affects everyone in society.
“The Jewish community has been living with the consequences of failed leadership for nearly two years.
“Through the government’s actions, the consequences are now being more broadly revealed to the rest of the nation,
“And the rest of the nation is realising that what started with the Jewish community won’t end there.
Victoria’s anti-hate taskforce was set up earlier this year due to the rise in antisemitic hate.
Members of the LGBTQ+ community will meet with the task force later this month to discuss violence and targeted attacks.