Herald Sun
Anthony Galloway
For the full media release click here
JEWISH leaders have called for union boss John Setka to apologise for likening a new building code to “Nazi Germany”.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission, said the Victorian Construction, Forestry Mining and Energy Union secretary’s comments were a “misguided deployment of Holocaust equations”.
“I have repeatedly spoken out against those who trivialise the Holocaust through the utilization of such loaded and inflammatory analogies that have no place in our civil discourse,” he said.
“No government policy should ever be equated with the Nazis or Hitler, and such grossly inappropriate references do an enormous disservice to history, and are deeply hurtful to the memory of the millions of Jews and non-Jews that were murdered, as well to Holocaust survivors and their families.”
Mr Setka was commenting on the Coalition’s proposed building code at a mass meeting of union members on Wednesday, when he said: “It’s an absolute disgrace, it’s likened to Nazi Germany, some of the stuff they want to bring in.”
“And it’s deliberately being brought in to, pardon my language, f**k us right over. That’s what they’re trying to do.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull this week criticised Mr Setka for the comments, calling on Labor leader Bill Shorten to “publicly clearly and emphatically” denounce the controversial figure”.
Dr Abramovich said “cheapening rhetoric” devalued the courage and sacrifices made by veterans during World War II.
“While John Setka has every right to disagree with and to criticise the government’s National Building Code, it is simply unacceptable to draw any links between Hitler’s evil deeds and the government’s legislative agenda,” Dr Abramovich said.
“Such thoughtless remarks poison what is a serious debate, and taint our national conversation. We call John Setka to apologise and say to all public figures and officials to stop invoking the Holocaust in an effort to score political points.”
After Mr Setka’s comments, union members voted to accept a new 15 per cent pay rise over three years from some of Victoria’s biggest builders.
Mr Setka has been contacted for comment.
Read more: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/push-for-apology-over-union-boss-john-setkas-nazi-jibe/news-story/9974c329580a77af07d8990444918cde?login=1