A credit to the community
Shadow Attorney General Julian Leeser and Labor MP Josh Burns have jointly won the coveted McKinnon Prize for 2024, McKinnon Political Leader of the year – federal.
Jonathan Leeser, Josh Burns and Allegra Spender
The award is presented by a joint partnership of McKinnon and the University of Melbourne.
Julian Leeser’s citation reads: ‘”Julian Leeser MP has emerged as a principled and respectful spokesperson during a period of considerable conflict, a role he has continued into 2024. His conduct has garnered praise from politicians and commentators across the political spectrum.”
In Facebook, Julian Leeser posted: “It was an honour to be awarded, alongside Josh Burns, the 2024 McKinnon Prize for Political Leadership, for work in fighting antisemitism over the past two years.
The citation for Josh Burns reads: “Amidst considerable pressure, Josh Burns MP has been a consistent voice, using his own experiences to humanise the issue to a divided public. He has been the target of personal attack but has been unwavering in his resolve. Showing respect for both sides he has been credited with a sensible, moderate approach that has helped to ease domestic tensions.”
Josh Burns told J-Wire: “I am humbled to be awarded the Mckinnon Prize for Political Leadership alongside my friend Julian Leeser. Julian and I disagree on some things, but every time we have a conversation about policy, I walk away liking him even more. He is a person of integrity and class, who I admire greatly.
For the past two years, Julian and I have been thrust into the spotlight for reasons we didn’t choose. Antisemitism isn’t a political issue, and I will stand alongside anyone who is committed to helping our community.
The past two years have been the most difficult of my professional career and the Jewish community has felt deep pain. I have tried to be a voice for our community, and to fiercely defend our multicultural Australia. Our country is at its best when people of all faiths, backgrounds and cultures recognise the experiences of each other. I hope that this award reminds people that in difficult times, our humanity and compassion are needed most.”
The organisers of the award is an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit organisation.
They believe that real change is possible – “but only if we take a long-term view in facilitating the development of political leadership, increasing public sector productivity, creating a thriving democracy and accelerating policy innovation.”
“we tend to be good at pointing to what we don’t like about our political leaders, but if we want to be constructive we also need to identify, recognise, and discuss the qualities we admire. That’s what the McKinnon Prize seeks to do.”
They say that Australians’ trust in their political leaders has been falling. Without this trust, belief in our system of government can erode and necessary reforms become impossible to achieve. The McKinnon Prize, therefore, seeks to highlight genuine examples of leadership excellence to counterbalance the prevailing pessimism.
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) congratulated both Julian Leeser and Josh Burns.
AIJAC Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein said, “Despite representing opposing parties and different perspectives on some key issues, Julian Leeser and Josh Burns have maintained respectful strong bipartisan cooperation and principled leadership on issues of vital importance to the Jewish community, including the unprecedented explosion of antisemitism in Australia and how to contain it.
AIJAC extends its warmest congratulations to them both for this well-deserved acknowledgement of their leadership roles, and hopes that they serve as an example to other politicians across the political spectrum in Australia.”
Wentwother Independent Allegra Spender was awarded the McKinnon Prize for 2024, McKinnon Political Leader of the Year – Emerging.
She posted on Facebook: “Thank you to McKinnon for investing in our democracy and reminding us that politics can still be ambitious, decent and outward-looking. Congratulations to all the other winners and nominees who are serving our country. It is a privilege to be in your company and work alongside you all.”
Congratulations to all three. Well-deserved. Especially Julian Leeser, who has been absolutely outstanding in his forthrightness, his considerably energy and his dignity of person.