Premier slams ‘twisted logic’ on terrorism
THE deepening crisis between Israel and the Palestinians – and funding to prevent radicalisation of Muslim youth in Australia – were on Premier Daniel Andrews’ mind when he spoke to a packed luncheon event at the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC).
THE deepening crisis between Israel and the Palestinians – and funding to prevent radicalisation of Muslim youth in Australia – were on Premier Daniel Andrews’ mind when he spoke to a packed luncheon event at the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC).
More than 800 attendees were booked in to the Palladium at Crown last Thursday to hear the Victorian leader speak about StartUp Victoria, an initiative to incubate innovative ideas, Israeli style.
But before that, in a self-admittedly rare foray into foreign policy for a state premier, Andrews lamented “turmoil on Israel’s doorstep, to her north, to her west … it’s a challenging time for the Jewish State … and that means it’s a challenging time for the Jewish people.
“I don’t think we should ever settle for this notion that if a Jewish mother or father is randomly attacked on the street, for instance, then so long as you go far enough back in time or you cast the net wide enough, or you draw the bow long enough, then it can be somehow still the victim’s fault, that it can somehow still be Israel’s fault. I won’t have any of that. I don’t think any of us should ever settle for that twisted logic,” he said. “The Jewish people always have to work so much harder to be exonerated for crimes they did not commit and it simply shouldn’t be that way.”
Drawing applause, Andrews declared: “So long as I have anything to do with it, the Victorian government will never leave Israel’s side. Our support is consistent and steadfast.”
The Premier blasted demonstrators in Bendigo who rallied to oppose the building of a mosque, but also slammed the “dangerously estranged” actions of Muslim teen Farhad Jabar who shot dead NSW Police employee Curtis Cheng. “Tragically he took an innocent life with him … that episode moved us all and lingers with us still.”
Turning to StartUp, he described it as “a very Israeli way” for Victorians to nurture new business ventures in medicine, pharmaceuticals, transport, defence, foodstuffs and professional services.
He also said the government will offer grants of up to $250,000 for research, up to $50,000 for concept development and up to $2000 for travel scholarships. The funding will be available under the Victoria-Israel Science, Innovation and Technology Scheme, VISITS, which began under the Baillieu government.
PETER KOHN
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