20^th February 2013
The Executive Council of Aus­trali­an Jewry, the national peak body of the Aus­trali­an Jewish community, its State con­stitu­ent bodies and the B’nai B’rith Anti Defam­a­tion Com­mis­sion, endorse the recent statement made by a coalition of organ­isa­tions and indi­vidu­als from across Victoria in support of Victoria’s mul­ti­cul­tur­al and mul­ti­faith community and, applying that statement to Australia, affirm the following:

Australia is a mul­ti­cul­tur­al and mul­ti­faith society in which racial, religious and lin­guist­ic diversity is embraced as a strength. This vibrant diversity has generated social, cultural and economic benefits for all Aus­trali­ans. Aus­trali­ans hold a diversity of views and beliefs, observe many different cultures and tra­di­tions and speak an impress­ive range of languages as demon­strated by the 2011 ABS Census.
Community harmony in Australia is strengthened by a long-standing, shared com­mit­ment across gov­ern­ment, community and business – and in a range of settings, including on the sporting field – to respect and embrace dif­fer­ence, to respond appro­pri­ately to unlawful treatment and vili­fic­a­tion, and to recognise and celebrate our common bond and shared values as proud Aus­trali­ans.
We have a col­lect­ive respons­ib­il­ity to respect our fellow citizens and preserve the social cohesion and harmony and demo­crat­ic values that char­ac­ter­ise Australia and makes our society great. We also encourage genuine and con­struct­ive engage­ment and dialogue as a means to achieving greater under­stand­ing and accept­ance of diversity.
We welcome chal­len­ging ideas and debate. However, inciting hatred and animosity towards specific cultural or faith-based com­munit­ies has no place in Australia. All Aus­trali­ans have a right to practice their faith and observe their cultural tra­di­tions and languages in accord­ance with the law and free from dis­crim­in­a­tion or vili­fic­a­tion.

Endorsed by:
The B’nai B’rith Anti Defam­a­tion Com­mis­sion, The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, The Jewish Community Council of Victoria, The Council of Jewish
Community Council of Western Australia Inc., The Queens­land Jewish Board of Deputies, The Jewish Community Council of South Australia, Hobart Hebrew Con­greg­a­tion Inc., The ACT Jewish Community Inc.
Contact:
Peter Wertheim AM | Executive Director
phone: 02 8353 8500 | m: 0408 160 904 | fax 02 9361 5888 e: pwertheim@ecaj.org.au