Dreyfus condemns ‘grotesque’ attempts to politicise antisemitism in swipe at Dutton
Dreyfus condemns ‘grotesque’ attempts to politicise antisemitism in swipe at Dutton
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Attorney general responded in Poland to criticism from opposition leader over Penny Wong’s visit to Auschwitz commemoration. Attempts to politicise antisemitism in Australia are “grotesque”, the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, has said in a swipe at Peter Dutton while visiting Poland for a Holocaust commemoration.
It came as both major parties pledged millions of dollars to upgrading Holocaust memorials and education facilities in Australia, to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Dreyfus was responding to a question from reporters in Krakow about the opposition leader’s criticism of Penny Wong attending the anniversary event.
He said it was an “appropriate” time and place to reject the politicisation of the Holocaust by critics of Wong. “It’s been grotesque, I use that word again, to see the rise in antisemitism since October the 7th,” he said. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email.
“But it has been equally grotesque to see attempts being made to politicise either commemoration of the Holocaust or combating antisemitism.”. Wong said it was “not a day for politics ... This is a time to remember the murder of 6 million people, 6 million Jews”.
Asked about Dreyfus’ comments at a press conference in WA, the prime minister said “unfortunately there have been elements” of politicisation of antisemitism. He reiterated calls for unity, and urged politicians “not to look for political differences where there aren’t any”.
