The Hon. Linda Dessau, a respected former governor of Victoria and family court judge, has expressed profound concern over the growing antisemitism in Australia. In a recent podcast appearance, she accused politicians, police, and universities of inadequately protecting Jewish Australians and called for more robust actions against antisemitic protests. Dessau highlighted that the Jewish community is increasingly feeling fearful due to these rising tensions.
She noted a disturbing inconsistency in the support offered to Australian Muslims following the 9/11 attacks compared to the Jewish community’s experiences since the escalation of conflict in Gaza. Dessau, who is Jewish herself, emphasised that there is a pressing need for political and community leaders to take decisive action. She lamented that the Jewish community feels abandoned, particularly when similar issues have been successfully countered in other contexts.
Dessau’s comments resonate deeply with the Jewish community, which has been vocal about these concerns for over a year. She pointed out that while protesting against Israel’s policies is permissible, the focus should remain on the issues rather than resorting to personal attacks. The situation on university campuses, where Jewish students have faced hostility, is particularly troubling for her, as she believes universities have not responded adequately to such behaviour.
Dessau advocates for a unified response from all community members against hatred, paralleling the solidarity shown towards other groups facing discrimination. She commended the antisemitism action plan crafted for the federal government, yet voiced disapproval of the personal attacks she has received since its introduction.
Throughout her career, Dessau has recognised the importance of social cohesion and multiculturalism, which she describes as a continuous endeavour that has recently been threatened. She expressed her intolerance for inflammatory slogans and symbols used during protests, asserting that such expressions of hate must be condemned and addressed through legal repercussions.
Dessau, who now chairs the mental health charity Beyond Blue, encourages a holistic view of community leadership, stating that the responsibility to combat antisemitism doesn’t rest solely with those directly affected. Instead, she argues that the entire community must come together to counteract such divisive sentiments.
By fostering understanding and unity, Dessau believes that they can collectively reduce the fears within the Jewish community and elsewhere, thereby reinforcing the values of respect and tolerance in Australian society.