Australia's Race Discrimination Commissioner has issued a powerful call for a unified national strategy to confront a surge in anti-Semitism, emphasising the urgent need for action in the wake of the deadly terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach.
A 'Whole Society' Approach to Slay the Beast
Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman told Sunrise on Wednesday that Australia must adopt a "whole society approach" to tackle racism and anti-Semitism, which he described as a serious and growing national problem. This follows Sunday's horrific attack at the Westfield Bondi Junction, which claimed the lives of 15 innocent people.
"We, of course, saw the most horrific act of anti-Semitic violence ever seen on these shores a few days ago," Sivaraman stated. He stressed that while anti-Semitism has "definitely increased since October 7, 2023," it is a deep-seated issue. "It's always been there," he reminded the public.
The Commissioner was unequivocal in his assessment: "All forms of racism have increased ... we need to name the beast to slay it, and we need to confront it."
Government Framework Awaits Action
When questioned about the government's response, Sivaraman declined to comment on alleged failures, noting he had seen the Prime Minister denounce anti-Semitism. Instead, he pointed to a concrete solution already on the table: a national anti-racism framework submitted to the government by his office a full year ago.
He revealed this comprehensive plan is "yet to be endorsed or acted on." "We need a comprehensive whole society approach to tackle anti-Semitism and racism," Sivaraman argued. "It's a whole-of-government, whole society approach to tackle racism and anti-Semitism in this country."
Defending Immigrants Amidst 'Disappointing' Debate
The Commissioner also strongly defended Australia's immigration system against criticism that emerged after the attack. He expressed being "really disappointed in some of the debate on immigration," where he said immigrants were being "dehumanised or demonised."
"Immigrants are being blamed for problems that have far more complex sources and need far more complex solutions," he said.
Highlighting the heroism displayed during the tragedy, Sivaraman noted that immigrants were among those who bravely intervened to save lives. He specifically mentioned Ahmed al Ahmed, who was shot twice after crash-tackling one of the alleged attackers and disarming him. Al Ahmed remains in hospital recovering from his injuries.
Sivaraman concluded that the Bondi tragedy underscores the critical need for Australia to collectively confront racism, transforming words of condemnation into decisive and meaningful change.
