Officeworks must act to prevent future antisemitism

An appalling case of antisemitism in the heartland of Melbourne’s Jewish community has come to light.

How the company, and the legal authority now involved, respond will be an important indicator of how much of a problem we have as Jews in contemporary Australia.

The facts of the case are clear. A Jewish man, identifiable because he was wearing a kippah, took a copy of the Australian Jewish News into Officeworks Elsternwick, and asked the person behind the counter to laminate an article about a trip to Israel.

The worker refused, saying that she was “pro-Palestinian” and that staff members at Officeworks have the right to deny jobs. “I am not comfortable proceeding with it,” she said.

The altercation, which occurred on March 4, was filmed and published by The Australian yesterday after the victim took the case to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Officeworks has so far failed to understand the seriousness of its employee's behaviour. When the man, who has chosen not to be identified, complained to the store, he was “thanked for the feedback” and offered a $100 gift card as compensation. Such a sop is appropriate for a stuff-up, not an offence.

The company has since said that the employee has undergone “education through the Melbourne Holocaust Museum” and that she is still employed at the store. No punitive action has been taken.