Mark Dreyfus ousted from cabinet
Mark Dreyfus lost his spot as attorney-general in the factional antics.
Mark Dreyfus addresses federal parliament
The member for Isaacs will be replaced by Victorian MP Sam Rae, a factional ally of Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.
Dr. Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia/Israel& Jewish Affairs Council said: “We congratulate Mark Dreyfus on his long and devoted service to his party and the nation, especially as the Attorney General. He has always been attentive to our community’s needs and concerns, for which we are very grateful. His legacy as Attorney-General includes important and badly-needed reforms to anti-incitement legislation and significant enhancements to communal security, and his term in office will also be remembered for his warm bridge-building visit to Israel representing the Government this past January.
It is clear he lost his portfolio due to factional politics, and this loss should not in any way undermine the great respect he earned for his meritorious contributions to Australia as a Minister.
As a prominent MP, we trust he will still have much scope to make important contributions to dealing with the pressing problems and opportunities Australia faces in the challenging times ahead.”
Daniel Aghion is the president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. He commented: “Mark Dreyfus deserves kinder treatment from his party and the government.
As Federal Attorney General in the Albanese, Gillard and Rudd governments and in other Cabinet positions, Mark has been a safe pair of hands and a key intellectual leader.
In close consultation with the Jewish community, he initiated important legislative reforms to make our anti-incitement laws more workable, and to ban the public display of Nazi and terrorist symbols, the Nazi salute and the trade in Nazi memorabilia.
His department continues to work with the ECAJ to oversee the allocation of grants totalling $57.5m for Jewish community security. We had been advocating for the introduction of these measures for ten years, but they were only brought into effect under Mark’s leadership.
His corporate memory and depth of understanding of these issues are second to none. It is regrettable that internal factional politics, rather than any considerations of merit, are pointing to his departure from the Cabinet.
We thank Mark for his friendship and his service to Australia, and wish him well for the future. We look forward to working with Mark’s likely successor Sam Rae.”
The removal of Mark Dreyfus from the position of Attorney General is shameful. Dreyfus is a lifelong loyal ALP member and one of the most intelligent, honorable and hard-working MPs and members of Cabinet. He has done an outstanding job in his role as Attorney General. Dropping him from the front bench weakens the Government, and Australia is the poorer for his loss. It is a shocking and disgraceful move on the part of the caucus and ALP leadership.
ECAJ says he deserved kinder treatment from the government. I say he deserved kiinder treatment from our community too.
He lost whatever respect I had for him, when in the recent elections he preferenced the Greens, a Party stained with jew hatred and which has supported policies which if implemented, would have disastrous if not existential consequences for our beloved Israel.
All this in the context that not only is he jewish but members of his family have been holocaust survivors.
Yes there’s been a lot said about the his disgraceful treatment even Paul Keating stood up to be counted.
I’m waiting for Julia Gillards response……..