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Danby critical of Bishop
June 6, 2016 by J-Wire Staff
The Member for Melbourne Ports Michael Danby has slammed Foreign Minister Julie Bishop's latest failure to speak out against the Iranian regime, condemning her "shameful silence" over Iran's third annual state-sponsored Holocaust cartoon competition.
Mr Danby said, "The Bishop/Turnbull Government's failure to speak out against Iran's grossly anti-Semitic state-sponsored Holocaust competition, held for the third time in 2016, is just the latest example of shameful silence from Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Iran."
"Julie Bishop failed to follow the lead of the United States in speaking out against Iran's recent ballistic missile test launches, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions; she has been silent on Iran's grievous human rights abuses, and now she has failed to criticise the Holocaust-denying regime for its sponsorship of the Third Holocaust Cartoon competition, when the US, Germany, UK, France and UNESCO have all criticised Iran."
"Australians with even a moderate amount of apprehension towards Iran would have to be astounded at the rate at which Julie Bishop has abandoned all of Australia's previously long-standing and bipartisan objections to the Iranian regime's bellicose behaviour towards Israel and the US; its gross human rights abuses and its state-endorsed antisemitism."
"It is all good and well for Ms Bishop to visit Caulfield and tour the Beth Weizmann Community Centre to narrowcast to Jewish community leaders, but she should make public condemnations of gross antisemitism from the Iranian regime."
Mr Danby released an ad proclaiming, "You can't trust the Liberals on Iran" this week, exposing Bishop's "shameful silence" over the Holocaust competition and Iran's last four ballistic missile test launches.
This follows a Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee's Inquiry into the Partial Suspension of Sanctions on Iran releasing a report which raised serious questions of the Australian Government's lack of public consultation and explanation over the lifting of sanctions, questioned why Australia's sanctions regime was in line with the softer EU rather than its most important strategic security ally the United States; and its failure to condemn its ballistic missile launches, human rights abuses and inflammatory behaviour towards Israel and the US. Mr Danby predicted at that time that, if elected, a Labor Government would return Australia to its previously-bipartisan position of speaking out against such abuses and incitement.
4 Responses to "Danby critical of Bishop"
I'll add a comment to make it four, Adrian. The buzz phrase contemporaneously is 'good potential trading partner'. The Coalition government has made a mantra of it. And it's used as a blind excuse for all sorts of poor decision-making that puts greed and short-term monetary gain above more visionary thinking.
Perhaps we should invite Iran to buy us up in the way China is most obviously trying to do. Perhaps we should throw caution to the wind and sell our soul for the sake of good trading partners, ignoring all sorts of evils. Perhaps … perhaps … one could go on, but no doubt you get the gist. All countries need trade with one another for good survival, and Australia has to learn how to do it sensibly and with due regard to other factors of equal, or more, importance. And trade should have nothing to do with a firm stance on our own idea of values – the two must co-exist separately.
What's the point of making friends diplomatically if in the end it's superficial only?
As to Iran being a sophisticated country, a cartoon competition making a mockery of the Holocaust is hardly a good example of that. And policing the wearing apparel of women in public places is not exactly up there with 'sophisticated' development either.
You're entitled to your own opinion, and this is what J-Wire is all about, bringing us news and airing of opinions. But I do wonder what sort of world you live in being able to disregard so readily the ugly realities that abound.
Adrian Jackson says:
Only two comments here in over two months. The foreign minister is doing a great job trying to make friends diplomatically.
Iran is a large sophisticated country and a potential trading partner just like China and the others.
Kevin Charles Herbert says:
How can the Iranian Government be considered anti semitic when it maintains very positive relations with its own Jewish community. Indeed, a few years ago the Israeli Government offered a US$70K bonus for Iranian Jews to emigrate to Israel, and didn't get one taker.
The Iranian Government is definitely anti Israel – but to expand that opposition to include a hatred of all Jews is not only clearly inaccurate, but demeans real anti-semitism.
Yes, Bishop's visit to the Beth Weizmann Centre in Caulfield might have made those involved feel good at the time, however, surely it was up to our Jewish leaders attending to take the opportunity afforded and do more than smile and be appreciative of the visit! Hard questions should have been asked and the realities of Israel, Iran and the Middle East from a Jewish perspective voiced.