Mark Dreyfus tries to put focus back on Holocaust away from politics over antisemitism
Krakow, Poland: Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has blasted the growing attacks on the federal government over its handling of antisemitism in Australia as “grotesque”, saying the issue did not belong to the left or the right of politics.
Dreyfus has joined Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Poland ahead of commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp by Soviet troops in the final year of World War II.
People visit the Memorial and Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau, a former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp, in Oswiecim, Poland.Credit: AP
The Albanese government has faced increased criticism from parts of the Jewish community and the Coalition, who have accused federal Labor of failing to take a strong enough stance on antisemitism amid a number of violent attacks against Jews in recent weeks.
Dreyfus told reporters at the Jewish Community Centre in Krakow that it was an appropriate place to reject attempts to politicise the Holocaust or to politicise antisemitism.
“Combating antisemitism, remembering the Holocaust does not belong to the left or the right, it does not belong to the progressive side of Australian politics or the conservative side of Australian politics,” he said.
“It’s been grotesque … to see the rise of antisemitism since October the 7th, but it’s been equally grotesque to see attempts being made to politicise either commemoration of the Holocaust or combating antisemitism; we need to get politics out of this”.
Mark Dreyfus and Penny Wong at Krakow, Poland, on Sunday.Credit: Rob Harris
More than 1.1 million people, predominantly Jews, were murdered at Auschwitz, along with Poles, Roma, Sinti, Soviet prisoners of war and homosexuals. Among them was Ida Ransenberg, Dreyfus’ great-grandmother, killed on October 14, 1942.
Dreyfus and Wong met 89-year-old Holocaust survivor Zofia Radzikowska, along with the centre executive director Jonathan Ornstein, on Sunday. Almost 100 curious onlookers and Polish media had gathered outside the building when a rumour swept the city that King Charles would be visiting, only to be confused by the sight of two Australian politicians arriving.
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2025-01-26 13:32:55
