Dutton and Bandt Clash Over Allegations of Anti-Semitism
Dutton accused the Greens of promoting abhorrent online remarks that have not been denounced by Albanese. Bandt labeled the rhetoric as dangerous amidst the rise of far-right movements.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Greens Leader Adam Bandt have engaged in a heated exchange after Dutton described the minor left-wing party as an “anti-Semitic, Jew-hating party.”
This comes in the wake of Dutton being questioned about social media comments made by the Liberal Party’s candidate for the western Sydney seat of Fowler, Vivek Singha.
Singha has issued an apology for his social media remarks during the 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum campaign, in which he ridiculed Indigenous Australians and directed personal attacks toward Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s family.
In one post, he remarked, “Everybody needs to wake up to the sleeping lazybags (the Alboriginals),” as reported by ABC.
In October, one post specifically targeted Plibersek, questioning, “Why are you of all people standing for others when you couldn’t even look after your own daughter’s safety?”
Dutton condemned the posts as “inappropriate and shouldn’t have been made” but maintained that the candidate had apologized.
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“I won’t accept a lecture from the prime minister, who is favoring the Greens’ second candidate,” Dutton remarked.
“This is an anti-Semitic, Jew-hating party. They have participated in various forms of doxxing and make repugnant comments online, which have not been condemned by the prime minister.”
Bandt Condemns Comments as ‘Reprehensible’
Greens leader Adam Bandt responded to Dutton’s accusations, labeling them “reprehensible, offensive, and entirely false.”
He cautioned that such rhetoric is “dangerous at a time when far-right movements are gaining courage due to Donald Trump’s presidency.”
“The Liberals are resorting to harmful lies because their campaign is deteriorating,” Bandt stated.
Members of the Greens Party have openly advocated for a firmer position against Israel.
For instance, last year, Greens Senator David Shoebridge participated in protests against a military exhibition in Melbourne alongside pro-Palestine activists. Other Greens MPs have joined pro-Palestine demonstrations at university campuses throughout Australia.
