NSW Education Department “reviewing” its decision to block release of information surrounding antisemitic post
The NSW State Government has agreed to an “internal review” of its decision to block the release of documents relating to an Education department employee who posted antisemitic comments alongside a photo of Adolf Hitler on the Australasian Union of Jewish Students’ Facebook page.
Last month, NSW Labor frontbencher Walt Secord accused the Berejiklian Government of shielding the employee after it blocked a freedom of information (FOI) request on the handling of the matter. The NSW Education Department officials refused the FOI because it wanted to protect the privacy of the person who made the antisemitic posting.
The matter surrounds a Sydney woman – a contractor with the NSW Education Department – who posted under the Hitler photograph: “It’s such a shame he didn’t finish his job.”
At the time, Mr Secord slammed the Berejiklian Government saying: “this is political correctness gone mad. Why is the Education Department shielding an employee who posted antisemitic pro-Hitler comments? Something is deeply wrong when the Education Department is only concerned about the rights of the person who posted pro-Hitler comments rather than disciplining them. I am deeply disgusted.”
The results of the appeal are expected to be conveyed to Mr Secord next week (September 6).
Mr Secord said: “It is important to send a message that there is no tolerance for antisemitic activity and if you engage in such behaviour, then you will be punished. I sincerely hope that the Berejiklian Government releases the material. The community has a right to know.”
Walt Secord is deputy chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel, patron of the NSW Labor Israel Action Committee and Shadow Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism.
