Holocaust survivor family horrified by modern Australia
Sarah Spina-Matthews |
Holocaust survivors alive to see growing Australian anti-Semitism would be haunted, the final day of a royal commission has been told.
Eddie Jaku wrote a bestselling memoir about surviving several German concentration camps during World War II before settling in Australia.
The Holocaust survivor’s granddaughter Danielle Jaku gave evidence at the Royal Commission into Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, she said incidents since his death – including a protest at the Sydney Opera House on October 9, 2023 – would have reminded him of the tropes and imagery used during his childhood in Germany.
At some rallies, which took place days after attacks by Hamas on Israel, protesters chanted anti-Semitic slurs and an Israeli flag was burned in footage aired globally.
“If he was here, he would be the most haunted man on earth,” Ms Jaku said.
“I don’t think he would cope well with the polarisation and the hate language.”
The commission was also addressed by the founder of Sikh-led charity Turbans 4 Australia, which provided support and food relief at Bondi following December’s terrorist attack.
Amar Singh said the relief effort reflected Australia’s best.
“When we head out to those disaster zones … our trucks and vans also bring out hope and gratitude,” he said.
Earlier, Commissioner Virginia Bell said the inquiry’s final report would be handed down on December 18, rather than December 14.
The short extension was in response to concern from Australia’s Jewish community that the report coming out on the day of the anniversary of the attack would be a distraction from memorials.
She acknowledged frustration the commission did not appear to outwardly investigate the events leading to the attack, but said closed hearings had been held to avoid prejudicing ongoing criminal proceedings related to the attack.
The findings from those hearings and other classified evidence would be in a confidential volume of the final report, Ms Bell said.
She also addressed the evidence of a former spy who has publicly claimed he warned ASIO about the father-son duo responsible for the massacre six years before they shot 15 people dead at Bondi.
The spy has lived in hiding overseas since 2023 after ASIO withdrew its support for his permanent residence, hindering a bid by the commission to hear his evidence.
But Ms Bell said the spy – whose application for a visa to return to Australia was rejected – had been offered the chance to give evidence remotely from overseas, but declined as it did not allow him certain legal protections.
Giving evidence publicly could prejudice ongoing legal proceedings about the two shooters, she said.
The commission accessed reports the spy provided to ASIO at the time, she said.
Leaders of Australia’s Jewish community expressed gratitude for those who gave evidence at the commission, often at a personal cost.
The commission heard directly from around 14,000 members of the community through evidence given in person and in writing, Ms Bell said.
AAP