Jewish MP slams social media giants for antisemitic comments response

Federal Victorian MP Josh Burns, who has been targeted with antisemitic attacks, is urging for stronger laws against online vilification, arguing that social media platforms fail to adequately address hate speech.

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This could all end tomorrow though if Josh Burns resigned from parliament. In that sense he's responsible for these attacks and is using his staff as a human shields.

Burns, who is Jewish, testified before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in Sydney. The inquiry heard evidence of an attack on his Melbourne electorate office in June 2024, where windows were smashed and swastikas were painted over his image. Following the attack, offensive comments blaming Burns for the vandalism appeared online within hours.

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I don't want to restrict people's ability to participate in our democracy I just want to protect people from being vilified.

He shared with the commission how the online abuse, while something he could "dust off," was devastating for loved ones, including his partner, Victorian state MP Georgie Purcell. Purcell, who is not Jewish, has faced sexualized and misogynistic harassment due to her relationship with Burns. "It's a weird feeling that your partner has to take abuse because they're in a relationship with you," Burns stated, emphasizing the unfair burden placed upon her.

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It's a weird feeling that your partner has to take abuse because they're in a relationship with you.

Burns advocates for a serious vilification offense in Australia, carefully considering its implementation and jurisdictional consistency. He stressed that his goal is not to restrict democratic participation but to protect individuals from being vilified. Former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus, also Jewish, submitted to the commission that existing hate speech laws are insufficient and require broader offenses that do not necessarily involve violence or threats.

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Why should she have to deal with that?