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The election date discriminates against Jews

11 Feb 05:45am

Filed under: Federal Election 2013, Jews, Politics, Yom Kippur

“I do understand the significance of the day in question for the Jewish community. But there would be many of my Melbourne Jewish friends who would also understand the significance of AFL grand final day.” - Prime Minister Julia Gillard announces 14 September, Yom Kippur, as date of Federal election, National Press Club, Canberra 30 January 2013.

Gillard announces the election will be on September 14…

I wonder if the Prime Minister really does. The conflation of Yom Kippur with a sport Grand Final does makes for a pithy sound byte, to be sure.

Though the comment garnered some titters from the Press Gallery, Prime Minister Gillard (or her adviser) has demonstrated an insensitivity towards the religious complexity of the Australian Jewish community.

Continue reading "The election date discriminates against Jews" »

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OchreBunyip says:

06:23pm | 11/02/13

It is the same category as freedom of speech, Australia has implied freedoms. There is no state religion, I am not required to belong to a specific church for State or Federal government employment, nor am I required to observe the tenets of any religion if I choose not to.… Read more »
Greg in Chengdu says:

06:23pm | 11/02/13

I’m Australian, 3 generations and I’m not Christian. I am in fact Jewsish. I’ve got no problem with the election being on Yom Kippur. I do have a problem with Christian fanatics though claiming Australia for themselves, as I am sure many other people do including many Aborigines that hold… Read more »

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