A legal firm that came after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier this year with claims the Australian government was “complicit in genocide” in Gaza, has now launched a separate case specifically targeting Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.
Birchgrove Legal released a two-page statement on Nov. 25, talking about the case it lodged against Dutton with the Australian Human Rights Commission under the country’s Racial Discrimination Act.
The action, led by Jewish Australian arts professor Peter Slezak and Palestinian advocate Nasser Mashni, accuses Dutton of “dehumanising” Palestinians, Muslims and Jews.
In March, the same legal firm submitted a letter to the International Criminal Court accusing members of the federal parliament of supporting alleged war crimes in the Israel-Hamas war.
The Claims Against Dutton
In the letter penned specifically against Dutton on Nov. 25, Birchgrove Legal Principal Solicitor Moustafa Kheir, based in Sydney, said Dutton’s comments had “normalised anti-Palestinian hate.”One claim made against the opposition leader is that he had misled Australians by suggesting the nation’s national security was at risk by allowing visas for 3,000 Palestinians to enter Australia.
The letter also objects to what it calls “far right” claims by Dutton that babies were beheaded during the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, and the assertion that pro-Palestinians were chanting “gas the Jews” on the steps of the Sydney Opera House shortly after attacks.
New South Wales Police later said the actual phrase was: “Where’s the Jews?” But the exact wording remains subject to debate.
The letter also claims Dutton supported the deportation of pro-Palestinian activists, and was critical of a new grassroots Muslim voting movement.
Professor Slezak said Dutton’s comments could fuel racial tensions.
“Statements that dehumanise any group of people, including Palestinians, must be challenged,” he said.
“All parties responsible must be held accountable for statements that dehumanise certain groups and fuel division, including Palestinians, whose suffering deserves recognition.”
Dutton’s office, and the Australian Humans Rights Commission, were contacted for comment by The Epoch Times.
The case came about after Faruqi made critical comments about the late Queen Elizabeth II following her 2022 death.
‘Lawfare’ on Conservative Voices
In response to the letter, Australian Jewish Association (AJA) CEO Robert Gregory said “lawfare” was used to target conservatives.“The use of ‘lawfare’ to silence conservative and pro-Israel voices is a concerning development that must be addressed,” he told The Epoch Times.
“The Australian Jewish Association has also been targeted in this way, in the past. Politicians and other Australians must not be intimidated from speaking up for just causes by the threat of ‘lawfare.’”
Gregory said the firm who'd launched the action had a history of “making attention-grabbing claims.”
“We are encouraged by Mr Dutton’s strong support for Australia’s ally, Israel, in its battle against terrorism,” he said.
Gregory said Slezak was a “long-time activist” whose views were out of line with most of the Jewish community.
“Polls have consistently shown that the Australian Jewish community is overwhelmingly supportive of Israel and is considered one of the most proudly Zionist, Jewish communities in the world,” he said.
