© 2018 Greg & Sylvia RAY

antisemitism

Antisemitism, hate crime and the law

I learn from Australia's ABC public news network that the nation's new Federal Police boss, Commissioner Krissy Barrett, reckons tougher laws on hate crime might be needed. The suggestion is that the police need extra powers to be able to nip hate crime and terrorism in the bud, before it even manifests. Frankly, this kind of talk makes my blood run cold. Already this year Australia enacted - with the support of both major political parties - mandatory minimum sentences of six years for terrorism offences, three years for financing terrorism and one year for displaying…

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Read more about the article Backing humanity isn’t antisemitic
Montage from an old pamphlet and a screenshot from Haaretz

Backing humanity isn’t antisemitic

February 25, 2025: OPINION BY GREG RAY Australia needs to beware of political and religious extremists. They are dangerous. Their advice and preferences should not take precedence over those of other people. It doesn't matter what religion they espouse or what nation-state they may be advocating for: if their pronouncements and declarations identify them as extremists then they need to be treated with great caution. Their extremist views should not be amplified and if opportunistic politicians and media outlets seek to do so in pursuit of some perceived advantage then those opportunists should be called out.…

Continue ReadingBacking humanity isn’t antisemitic
Read more about the article Who gets to control the misinformation?
Wear a mask. Don't wear a mask. Wait, wear a mask after all . .

Who gets to control the misinformation?

We are being told that Australia needs a law to minimise harmful effects of misinformation and disinformation. Maybe you think that sounds like a good idea. Trouble is, a lot of bad things happen because they seemed like a good idea at the time, and I have a feeling this proposed law could turn out to be one of them. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is the body that has proposed the law and that will administer it, if it is passed by the Government. It will be charged with monitoring and minimising certain…

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