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The Executive Council of Aus­trali­an Jewry (ECAJ), the peak rep­res­ent­at­ive body of the Aus­trali­an Jewish community, has warmly welcomed the announce­ment made by Prime Minister Scott Morrison by video link to the Malmö Inter­na­tion­al Forum on Holocaust Remem­brance and Combating Antisemitism on 13 October 2021 that the Aus­trali­an gov­ern­ment “pledges to embrace the defin­i­tion of antisemitism adopted by the Inter­na­tion­al Holocaust Remem­brance Alliance (IHRA)”.

The Prime Minister emphas­ised that Australia has made this pledge “as a people and as a nation”, adding: “Antisemitism has no place in Australia. It has no place anywhere in the world”.

“The use of the word ‘embrace’ means that the Aus­trali­an gov­ern­ment sees this pledge not only as a formal, inter­na­tion­al com­mit­ment but also as a profound expres­sion from the heart of our most abiding national values – a fair go for all, mutual respect and personal freedom”, said ECAJ co-CEO Peter Wertheim.

“It is also a matter of national honour that Australia has joined the ranks of other nations which have adopted the IHRA Working Defin­i­tion of Antisemitism”.

ECAJ President, Jillian Segal AO thanked co-CEOs Peter Wertheim and Alex Ryvchin for their efforts, as well as the Expert Members of the Aus­trali­an Gov­ern­ment Del­eg­a­tion to IHRA, the Zionist Fed­er­a­tion of Australia and AIJAC.  “We have all worked closely on this issue, espe­cially over the last 12 months”, she said. “I also acknow­ledge the support of a great many par­lia­ment­ari­ans from the gov­ern­ment and the oppos­i­tion, including Federal Oppos­i­tion leader, Anthony Albanese”.

“This is a watershed in Australia in the unending battle against antisemitism”, Segal said.  “It is the beginning, not the end of the journey.  In order to make good on the Prime Minister’s pledge that Australia embraces the IHRA Working Defin­i­tion as a nation and a people, it will need to be adopted by the public and private sectors, the Uni­ver­sity sector, civil society, school education systems and sporting organ­isa­tions among others”.

“The government’s announce­ment has set the standard, for which we are grateful, and the challenge of making the Working Defin­i­tion a reality in daily life lies before us.”