A large number of prominent Australian business leaders have signed a statement rejecting discrimination and hatred in Australia, amid a significant spike in antisemitic incidents since October 7.
The signatories of the statement express their alarm at a 482 per cent increase in antisemitic incidents in Australia over the past seven weeks in a statement published across major newspapers.
“We have been alarmed at the offensive language, vandalism and harassment occurring on our streets, university campuses and outside public Australian landmarks including the Sydney Opera House, Flinders Street Station and parliament,” the statement reads.
“We are unequivocal in our resolve that racism in all its forms is deplorable and abhorrent. Whether directed towards Jewish Australians, Muslim Australians, Asian Australians, Indigenous Australias or any other minority, we will not tolerate such conduct in our workplace and firmly reject it in our communities.”
The leaders go on to issue a statement to Jewish employees, business [partners, customers and “all who are affected” that their heightened feelings of threat in their communities are being felt right now.
“All Australians are entitled to be treated with respect, free from offensive, hostile and intimidating behaviour. We stand against antisemitism, Islamaphobia, and any form of racism in our workplaces, hiring practices and business dealing.”
The signatories include CEOs of the major banks, accounting firms and other large employers in Australia, company board members and chairs, and current and former state and federal politicians, under the headline, “A newspaper ad can’t end hate. But you can.”
More than 600 people had signed the statement at the time of its release, with the majority being non-Jewish signatories, according to the Australian Financial Review.
A number of well-known female leaders have signed the statement, including Catherine Brenner, Jilian Broadbent, Helen Coonan, Lisa George, Jayne Hrdlicka, Marcia Langton, Wendy McCarthy and Diane Smith-Gander (pictured above).