The Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), Australia’s leading organisation fighting hatred in all its forms, has called on Senator Ian Macdonald to apologise for saying that, “Perhaps Hitler… had the right idea: do not bother about a parliament and you do not have to bother about those pesky parliamentarians at all” during a discussion regarding the axing of the Life Gold Pass for retired politicians.
Dr. Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
With this insensitive and hurtful outburst, Ian Macdonald has crossed so many red lines I stopped counting. For a parliamentarian to approvingly cite and to suggest that a monstrous dictator who personifies evil, who wreaked havoc in Europe and whose genocidal actions led to the extermination of six million Jews and millions of others is misguided and unacceptable. The statement not only taints our politics, but also shows a gross and profound lack of historical understanding about the horrific crimes that Hitler and his bestial regime committed. I am increasingly alarmed about the coarsening of public discussion and the misappropriation of the Holocaust as a way to bring attention to the issues that our elected officials are passionate about. We urge Mr Macdonald to choose his words carefully in the future and to apologise to the victims, the survivors and those Australian soldiers who fought valiantly to defeat the Nazis.”
The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission, founded in 1979, is Australia’s leading organization fighting racism through educational programs that combat bigotry, prejudice and all forms of hatred.
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on 9272 5677.