WA Government mulls over new plan to combat anti-Semitism but says it values ‘artistic freedom’

The WA Government is mulling over recommendations for a new plan to combat anti-Semitism, saying while it “values artistic freedom” it takes “a very strong stance” in condemning discrimination and violence.

The comprehensive proposals set out by Australia’s anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal included a string of measures to combat the issue.

It included training Border Force officials to spot anti-Semites, embedding Holocaust history into school curricula, monitoring media organisations and cutting funding to universities and arts bodies who don’t act to stop anti-Semitic conduct.

Her report also showed incidents of anti-Semitism have increased by 300 per cent since the October 7 massacre.

“We will review the recommendations. We value artistic freedom, but we take a very strong stance against all forms of racism, violence and discrimination — there is no place for it in WA, and we unequivocally condemn it,” a WA Government spokesman said.

“The Cook Labor Government has a strong relationship with the Jewish community, and we will continue to work together to keep Western Australia safe.”

The Prime Minister made clear there was no place in Australia for anti-Semitism.

It comes as Anthony Albanese in Sydney on Friday said Australian border officials are “already” screening inbound arrivals for anti-Semitic views.

Asked if the Federal Government was doing enough, the PM brought up the recent example of Australia’s controversial call to cancel US rapper Kanye West’s access to the country.

“We screen people before they apply for visas, we make sure they represent Australia’s national interest,” he said.

“You recall, there was a particular American citizen who recently got denied a visa because of the anti-Semitic comments that he’d made in having a song that praised Adolf Hitler.”

But when asked to give an update on the detention of Palestinian woman Maha Almassri and to explain the nature of the risk she posed to Australia, the PM was tight lipped.

After being assessed as a risk to national security, her home was raided by ASIO and who was placed in Villawood immigration detention centre on Thursday.

“No, because we don’t talk about national security issues and those briefings,” he said.