The ADC has expressed its disappointment with gender adviser to the NRL Catharine Lumby for comparing legislation that would seek to regulate relationships between co-workers to Hitler’s regime. Ms Lumby said, “I think it’s Nazi Germany if we start legislating about who we can have sex with or what people do in their private lives.” The comments were made in an interview about a recent sex scandal that saw two high-ranking AFL executives resign.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“While I understand that there are strong emotions regarding this issue, Catharine Lumby’s cynical reference to Nazi Germany is insensitive and deeply hurtful to Holocaust survivors. This tasteless comparison is a gross distortion of the historical record, cheapens and trivialises the memory of the six million Jews and millions of others who perished, and devalues the contribution of those diggers who fought valiantly to defeat the Nazis. While Ms. Lumby is entitled to speak about gender issues, it is simply unacceptable to draw any links between Hitler’s genocidal actions, and workplace protocols. Such tasteless remarks only poison and debase what is a serious debate, and we urge Ms. Lumby to apologise and to refrain from employing such outrageous and inflammatory equations in the future.”
The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission, founded in 1979, is Australia’s leading civil rights organization fighting racism through educational programs that combat bigotry, prejudice and all forms of hatred.
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on (03) 9272 5677.