Liberals attempt to stop Dreyfus talking about antisemitism

The Opposition has attempted to stop Jewish Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus speaking in parliament about his experience of antisemitism.

In a move which experienced parliamentary reporters are describing as "bizarre", the Manager of Opposition Business Michael Sukkar forced a division in the House of Representatives over whether Dreyfus should be allowed to continue talking about antisemitism.

Dreyfus was answering a question put by Liberal Sussan Ley who had asked him to detail the benefits of mandatory sentencing. Labor has historically opposed mandatory sentencing, but in the new hate crimes laws passed last week the Government agreed to the Opposition's demand to introduce mandatory jail terms. The legislation includes mandatory terms of at least 12 months for displaying hate symbols such as Nazi signs, three years for financing terrorist groups and at least six years for terror offences.

Dreyfus answered the question by detailing legislation the Government had passed to counter antisemitism including banning the Nazi salute and other hate symbols, criminalising possession of violent material, and criminalising doxing.

He went on to talk about his own experience of antisemitism and accused the Opposition of politicising the issue. "In the past few months, I've stood in the shadow of the main gate at the Auschwitz death camp, I've stood on the field where a music festival in Israel was turned into a bloodbath, and I've stood in the ruins of a burnt out synagogue in my home town.