Australia is failing itself by ignoring the real divide

Enough with the illusions. The recent statement from the United Muslim Community (UMC) and its affiliates regarding the Bankstown nurses’ scandal is not just an exercise in deflection—it is a glaring sign that Australia is failing to confront a growing and dangerous divide.

Our government, media, and institutions continue to push the fantasy that everyone in this country shares the same values, aspirations, and commitment to a respectful, cohesive society. This statement proves otherwise.

Two nurses from Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital, Ahmad “Rashad” Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, were recorded making chilling remarks about harming Israeli patients. Instead of unreservedly condemning this outright breach of medical ethics and Australian values, the UMC and its supporters doubled down, playing the victim card, shifting blame, and attacking those who rightfully called out their hateful rhetoric. This is not just moral cowardice—it is a calculated attempt to avoid accountability while feeding a divisive and dangerous narrative.

A Leadership That Won’t Own Its Problems

The UMC’s statement reeks of everything wrong with certain community leadership in Australia today. Rather than confronting the fact that prominent members of their community were recorded expressing violent and deeply racist views, they chose to focus on the “hypocrisy” of political and media reactions. This is a predictable pattern: every time antisemitism, extremism, or incitement is exposed within their ranks, they immediately deflect responsibility and claim persecution.

Their statement complains about “selective outrage,” implying that the response to these nurses was exaggerated. But what would happen if two non-Muslim nurses were caught saying they wouldn’t treat Muslim patients? Would the UMC then argue that it was “emotional and hyperbolic” or that the outrage was politically motivated? We all know the answer. There would be immediate calls for national action, government intervention, and widespread condemnation from the very same groups now crying foul.

By refusing to acknowledge and address the problem, the UMC and its affiliates send a clear message: they are not invested in the same Australia as the rest of us. They are not interested in self-reflection or reform. They are interested in protecting their own, even when those people are caught promoting hatred.

A Nation That Refuses to Lead

The failure doesn’t stop with them. The real crisis is that Australia, as a nation, continues to pretend that we all share the same fundamental respect for each other and for the values that supposedly define this country. Our political leaders refuse to acknowledge that parts of our society do not wish for a peaceful, multicultural coexistence. They remain paralysed by fear—fear of being labelled “Islamophobic,” fear of losing votes, fear of confronting an uncomfortable truth: not everyone in this country wants to “get along.”

This is not about religion. Many Australian Muslims are peaceful, patriotic, and fully integrated into society. But their voices are drowned out by the very leadership that should be ensuring accountability. Instead, groups like the UMC continue to entrench division, excusing extremism within their communities while demanding unquestioning respect from the rest of Australia.

The government’s failure to respond decisively has allowed this problem to fester. If we refuse to call this out for what it is—a dangerous and growing rift in Australian society—we will continue down the path of further division, further resentment, and further radicalisation.

Stop Pretending—The Divide Is Real

Let’s stop pretending that everyone wants the same thing for Australia. The UMC’s statement is not an anomaly—it is a symptom of a much bigger issue. It represents a leadership and a community that, rather than working towards integration, choose to deepen the fault lines in our society. It proves that our government has no strategy, no courage, and no leadership when it comes to dealing with those who seek to erode Australian values from within.

There is no moving forward until we acknowledge this truth. There is no national unity when sections of the community are given a free pass to promote hate while others are held to impossible standards of tolerance. Australia’s strength comes from a shared commitment to values like equality, respect, and accountability. Those who refuse to uphold them—no matter their background—must be challenged, not coddled.

The UMC’s response is not just an embarrassment. It is a warning. And if we keep ignoring it, the future of Australia will be one of deeper fractures, not unity.

Michael Gencher is the Executive Director of StandWithUs Australia, an international education organisation that supports Israel and fights antisemitism. Michael immigrated to Sydney from Canada in 1991, and was CEO and Head of Community within the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, where he was instrumental in promoting education, fostering dialogue, and addressing antisemitism.Bottom of Form