by JOSH SPASARO – FEDERAL Senator Bridget McKenzie has doubled down on the Coalition’s commitment to deport hate preachers when returned to government.
The National Party Senator has been a vocal supporter of Israel amid rising anti-Semitism following the 2023 Hamas terror attacks, which killed more than 1200 Jews.
- No one has called out racist anti-Semitism – and it’s growing like a cancer.
- It has been allowed to fester for too long by the Albanese Government.
- The Liberal National Coalition will act decisively against Islamic hate preachers.
“We’ve made no bones about it – we’ll be deporting hate preachers,” she told The Epoch Times.
“I think we need zero tolerance for this stuff. We do have to accept that there are now Australian citizens who are hate preachers and who are radicalised, or in the business of radicalising.”
HATE PREACHERS
Ms McKenzie said a Liberal National Coalition would act decisively against Islamic hate preachers.
“If they’re not citizens – or if they’re dual citizens – they will go back from where they came,” she said.
“I think we need to be fast and determined about doing that quickly, and sending a very strong signal.”
Her comments follow a number of incidents involving extremist figures making controversial remarks – or supporting Hamas – following the October 7 slaughter.
One day after the Hamas attack, Sheikh Ibrahim Dadoun, a Sydney-born imam of Lebanese background, described the killings as an act of resistance during a pro-Palestinian rally.
“I’m elated, it’s a day of courage, it’s a day of pride, it’s a day of victory – this is the day we’ve been waiting for,” he told a Lakemba crowd in south western Sydney.
The event later drew criticism from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other government ministers.
Ms McKenzie questioned why Mr Dadoun had not been called to appear before the recent Royal Commission into Anti-Semitism & Social Cohesion.
The Commission was established after public pressure mounted on Mr Albanese to call an inquiry following the ISIS-inspired Bondi terror attack on December 14 last year.
“Why isn’t this guy being called? It’s insane. And why isn’t he being charged under NSW laws?” she asked.
“We don’t need new hate laws – just use the existing laws.”
The Commission concluded its public hearings on August 26, with Ms McKenzie saying not enough key witnesses were brought forward.
“We’re fighting for the Royal Commission to be extended. We don’t think they’ve spoken to the number of people and the types of groups that a Royal Commission of this scope should look at,” she said.
“When we had the child sex Royal Commission, we were dragging in elderly priests from aged care homes.
“So, the royal commissioner should not be afraid to haul people in to question them about their public comments and behaviour.”
Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor also said “serious questions” remained unanswered as the hearings came to an end.
The Albanese government has released figures on the Commission, revealing that 20,000 submissions were received and 348 witnesses appeared at the hearings.
Commissioner Virginia Bell SC will deliver her final report on or before December 18 this year.
On August 30 this year, hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators lined the course of the Sydney Marathon waving Palestinian flags and holding placards demanding the exclusion of “war criminal” runners.
The protestors targeted a delegation of about 40 current and former Israeli soldiers who participated in the event.
One demonstrator was photographed holding a sign that read, “Zionists are indigenous to Hell,” alongside red inverted triangles associated with Hamas propaganda and the marking of targets.
Ms McKenzie added that the kind of sentiment against Israelis witnessed at the marathon had been allowed to fester for too long by the Albanese Government.
“No one’s called it out, and it’s just grown like a cancer,” she said.PC
And Angus should be asking the Liberals why are they importing them in the first place. Wasting time?
Yes, if you say so. We have learned that words are cheap and the Liberals are controlled by the wets. What you say will never happen. Fast, determined and quickly! Really?